White Collar Crime

What are White Collar Crimes?

The term “White collar” crimes refers to a variety of non-violent crimes usually committed in commercial or business situations for financial gain. The term “White collar” refers to the fact that people who commit these crimes are usually high-powered professionals, as opposed to “Blue-Collar” laborers.

What are some examples of White Collar Crimes?

• Bankruptcy Fraud: misleading creditors, or concealing assets from the bankruptcy court.
• Counterfeiting: Copying an item without authorization, and with the intent to use or sell as the real article, usually refers to money, but could also apply to other important documents such as passports or drivers’ licenses.
• Trade Secret Theft: Misappropriation or theft of trade secrets, or other information that if exposed, could lead to substantial loss for the business.
• Health Care Fraud: Billing for services not rendered, equipment not needed, or falsification of records to increase profit
• Securities Fraud: Taking advantage of privileged knowledge to increase profits or avoid losses in the stock market
• Mortgage Fraud: A crime characterized by some type of material misrepresentation or omission on a loan which is then relied upon by a lender. As an example, lying on your mortgage application is mortgage fraud. There are two types of mortgage fraud; fraud for profit and fraud for housing. Mortgage fraud for profit, targets industry insiders who use their specialized knowledge or authority to commit or facilitate the fraud. Fraud for housing typically targets illegal actions conducted solely by the borrower, who is motivated to acquire and maintain ownership of a house by providing false or misrepresented income and asset information on a loan application.

What are the consequences of a White Collar Crime conviction?

The potential punishments for white collar crime may include imprisonment and/or fines.

Contacting a criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles

If you are accused of a white collar crime, you should contact Ken Behzadi immediately to learn more about your rights, your defenses, and the legal system process.