FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAWYERS

NJ White Collar Criminal Defense Attorneys

What Are White Collar Crimes?

White collar crimes are crimes that involve concealment, violation of trust and deceit. The primary motivation behind a white collar crime is financial gain. White collar crimes can be prosecuted at the federal or state level.

Types of White Collar Crimes

Embezzlement

Embezzlement occurs when someone steals or misappropriates the funds that belong to their employer. People who are charged with embezzlement typically either work for a company or hold a public office. However, you can also be charged with embezzlement if you are an officer in a charitable or religious organization. The amount of money or the value of the property will determine the specific punishment that one gets.

Fraud

Fraud is defined as the act of intentionally deceiving someone in order to achieve unfair or unlawful gain. Specific examples of fraud include financial identity fraud, credit card fraud and financial fraud. People who commit fraud are usually charged with felonies.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a felony. If you illegally obtain an individual’s personal information and use it for your own purposes, then you can be charged with identity theft. It doesn’t matter whether the person is alive or dead. Examples of identifying information include Social Security number, bank account number, driver’s license, PIN, credit card information and debit card information.

Extortion

Extortion is the act of using threats in order to obtain something from someone. It is a felony.

Forgery

Forgery is a crime that involves fraudulently altering or making a document. People can forge checks, deeds, wills, notes, financial transaction cards and names. Forgery is usually a felony.

Money Laundering

Money laundering is the act of illegally obtaining money through a criminal activity and then concealing it. Money laundering may involve a foreign bank or a legitimate company. There are three steps involved in money laundering.

Placement is the first step. This involves moving the money away from its source. It is common for people who launder money to put it in a foreign bank account.

Layering is the second step. The purpose of this step is to make it hard to detect that the money was laundered. People may make multiple transactions in different countries so that the bank will not be able to trace it.

Integration is the final step. It is when the person puts the money back into the economy. People can make it seem like they obtained the money from a legitimate source, such as a job. This money can also be taxed, which is why it is often hard to catch.

What Is The Difference Between White Collar Crimes And Blue Collar Crimes?

White collar crimes are committed by people who in the professional classes, business classes and political classes. They typically involve large amounts of money. Many people commit blue collar crimes because they want to be a part of the white collar class. Lack of opportunity typically plays a role in blue collar crimes. Blue collar crimes may involve forgery, fraud and burglary.

Additionally, blue collar crimes may also involve acts of violence. Unlike white collar crimes, blue collar crimes typically aren’t prosecuted at the federal level.

Our NJ White Collar Criminal Defense Attorneys

One of the best things that you can do if you have been accused of a white collar crime is to hire an attorney. Competent legal counsel could mean the difference between going to prison or getting your charges dropped. It is important to remember that you are considered innocent until you are proven guilty. You also have rights. Your attorney will make sure that none of your constitutional rights are violated.