What is Federal White Collar Crime?

At Petkovich Law Firm, we frequently defend individuals accused of committing federal white collar crimes. What does that mean exactly? White collar crimes are crimes that are nonviolent in nature and motivated by financial gain. They normally involve concealing something and breaking someone else’s trust in you. While white collar crimes are nonviolent, they are not victimless. They can financially destroy a business, family, or investor.

The FBI heads a department investigating white collar crimes. Since they frequently involve businesses or other high-profile cases, it is not uncommon for your white collar crimes to be discovered or persecuted by the government. Here are some of the most common forms of white collar crime:

Corporate Fraud

Corporate Fraud involves schemes to deceive investors, auditors, and analysts about the true financial status of a company. This could be caused by accounting schemes, self-dealing executives, or plain old obstruction of justice to conceal the truth. The FBI looks for falsified financial information, insider trading, market timing schemes, and fraudulent trades to hide losses as warning signs that Corporate Fraud is being committed.

Money Laundering

Money Laundering is not always literally printing fake money, although it sometimes can be. Instead, it is a process by which someone takes illegally-obtained funds and disguises them to look legitimate. It allows someone to build unearned wealth while avoiding taxes and punishment. Money Laundering can be accomplished through international trade, real estate properties, virtual currency, and any number of other methods.

Investment Fraud

Investment Fraud is the illegal (and sometimes even entirely fake) sale of financial instruments. Investment Fraud normally lures unsuspecting investors in by claiming to be a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. Investment Fraud normally targets a group of people to gain their trust and then exploits them all. Pyramid Schemes and Ponzi Schemes are classic examples of Investment Fraud.

Healthcare Fraud

Healthcare Fraud involves illegally deceiving the healthcare system to receive payments or benefits. Healthcare Fraud is commonly committed by medical providers, pharmacies, and patients alike. Healthcare Fraud may be achieved by double billing, identity theft, phantom billing, fake marketing, forged prescriptions, and upcharging.

Get the Defense You Need

At Petkovich Law Firm, we know that not everything is how it seems. We’ve been defending clients accused of white collar crimes for years, and we know exactly where to start with the process. If you are dealing with a federal white collar crime charge, contact Petkovich Law Firm today! We practice with passion and professionalism.