What is a White-Collar Crime?

As you know, individuals can be charged with a wide variety of crimes, and the penalties for those crimes vary largely based upon the nature of the crime. Many crimes involve drugs or violence, and traditionally, when we hear the word “crime,” those are the crimes we tend to think of most. That being said, there are many crimes that do not involve violence, though they can still be considered extremely serious crimes. In many cases, those crimes are referred to as white-collar crimes. Generally speaking, white-collar crimes are those that involve acts of theft, and usually on a large scale. Please continue reading and speak with our experienced Rockland County criminal defense attorney to learn more about white-collar crimes and how we can help you if you have been charged with one. Here are some of the questions you may have:

What are some examples of white-collar crimes?

There are many types of white-collar crimes, though among the most common are as follows:

• Ponzi schemes: Ponzi schemes generally promise investors and others exceedingly high monetary results, only to take that money and use it to pay off other unsuspecting investors. The most infamous Ponzi scheme was conducted by Bernie Madoff.
• Extortion: This is when you blackmail or threaten someone to hand over money.
• Embezzlement: Embezzlement is when someone in a position of trust at a company misappropriates or underhandedly manages that company’s money or funds for their own benefit.
• Corporate fraud: Corporate fraud is essentially when corporations falsify information to save money.
• Bankruptcy fraud: If you file for bankruptcy and you hide certain documents from the bankruptcy court, there is a very good chance that you will be charged with bankruptcy fraud.

What happens if I am charged with a white-collar crime?

There are various potential penalties for committing white-collar crimes. You should understand that white-collar crimes are generally considered felonies, which often come with far more severe consequences. Common penalties for white-collar crimes are as follows:

• Heavy fines
• Supervised release
• Imprisonment
• Forfeitures
• Restitution
• Community confinement
• Home detention

The bottom line is that if you are being charged with a white-collar crime, you need a New York criminal defense attorney at your side. We are here to help–all you have to do is pick up the phone and give us a call.

Contact our experienced Rockland County firm

Kevin T. Conway has over 30 years of experience as a Spring Valley criminal attorney handling DUI, DWI, traffic violations, violent crimes, sex crimes, illegal gun possession, shoplifting, and juvenile crimes. Attorney Conway is also experienced in commercial law matters, zoning law, and estate planning. If you need a Rockland County criminal lawyer, contact our Spring Valley office for a free consultation.