Fewer criminal charges confuse quite like those that fall under the umbrella of white-collar crimes. Absent knowledge of these types of crimes, a person may unintentionally commit them.
There are several ways the authorities may attempt to convict a person of crimes that fall in this category. Learning the basics of white-collar crimes may assist in a defense against them.
What is a white-collar crime?
Professionals, particularly in finance, run a greater risk of getting charged with a white-collar crime. Simply put, these crimes do not involve violence but instead hinge on deception to gain a financial advantage. A white-collar crime may also extend to the act of concealing money. The reason behind the crime is typically financial gain for an individual or a business.
What are examples of white-collar crimes?
The range of offenses that the authorities classify as white-collar crimes include:
Identity theft
Gaining access to a person’s sensitive information to steal his or her money falls under identity theft. Even swiping another person’s credit card to pay for a good or service may fall under this category.
Falsifying financial records
Cooking the books, so to speak, is a white-collar crime because it intends to purposely misguide investors into believing a business is doing better than it is.
Money laundering
Money laundering involves taking ill-gained money from a criminal enterprise and making it appear legally made by funneling it through a respectable business.
White collar crime convictions may carry sentences that range from a loss of business license to federal jail time. If facing such a prospect in Washington State, enlisting the help and guidance of a professional may prove beneficial.