White collar crimes are typically some type of fraud crime. The accused individual is alleged to have used some form of deception for personal gain. White collar criminal charges can result in fines and even time behind bars. For that reason, accused individuals should know what white collar crimes are and what it takes to defend against them.
Some examples of white collar crimes include:
- Embezzlement: embezzlement describes a crime in which the accused individual is rightfully in possession of property that they then misappropriate for their own purposes. The best example of embezzlement is when an employee handling their employer’s books takes company funds to go on a personal shopping spree.
- Securities fraud: securities fraud can occur in different ways but the most common example is insider trading. The best example of insider trading is when an employee of a company uses inside information not available to the public and makes securities trades based upon that information. It can also occur when the health of a company is falsified to influence trade decisions.
- Tax evasion: tax evasion is a crime when the accused individual attempts to avoid taxes they would otherwise owe. The best example is falsely filling out a tax return or transferring property to avoid tax liability.
Additional examples of white collar crimes include insurance fraud, Ponzi schemes and money laundering. A strong criminal defense is needed against white collar criminal charges and against criminal charges generally which is what accused individuals should be prepared for.