White Collar Crimes

White Collar crime is typically viewed as non-violent illegal activity that primarily involves the use of deceit, deception, concealment, manipulation, breach of trust, subterfuge or illegal evasion. The term was coined in 1939 by Professor Edwin Sutherland as an attempt to distinguish between this class of crime and ordinary street crime. Professor Sutherland defined white collar crime as, “crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation.”

White Collar offenses are codified under federal and state law. While a criminal offense in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania involves the violation of a state statute or local ordinance, a federal criminal offense involves the violation of a statute that the United States Congress has enacted. Federal criminal offenses very often carry much harsher penalties and/or much longer periods of incarceration compared to state criminal offenses. A perfect example of the gravity of a federal criminal offense comes from “pop culture’s” understanding and treatment of federal crimes. The popular phrase, “don’t make a federal case out of it,” has roots in society’s understanding of the grand scale and harsh sentences associated with federal prosecutions.

Prosecutions of White Collars crimes have become increasingly popular by Federal prosecutors in recent years. Cases involving political corruption, bank and mortgage frauds, tax evasion and honest service frauds have dominated the news and involve individuals not commonly associated with criminal activity.

The typical White Collar crimes that federal and state prosecutors most commonly charge include, but are not limited to the following:

• Bank Robbery
• Bank Fraud and Embezzlement
• Bribery
• Civil Rights Crimes
• Election Fraud
• Extortion
• Illegal Gambling
• Obstruction of Justice
• Perjury
• Racketeering and RICO
• Blackmail
• Computer Fraud
• Counterfeiting
• Credit Card Fraud
• Currency Schemes
• Embezzlement
• Forgery
• Health Care Fraud
• Insider Trading
• Insurance Fraud
• Investment Schemes
• Kickbacks
• Larceny/Theft
• Mail Fraud
• Money Laundering
• Securities Fraud
• Tax Evasion
• Welfare Fraud

Remember, if you or a loved one is charged with or under investigation for a White Collar crime, then it is imperative to preserve and protect your/their rights. Retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect those rights should be done immediately. Facing such a serious allegation can be life altering in many ways. Do not hesitate in retaining a skilled, experienced and aggressive criminal attorney to protect your rights, your reputation and your future. Joe D’Andrea’s practice has been exclusively dedicated to providing aggressive criminal defense for the accused for nearly forty years. Protect yourself, protect your rights.

You may get only one phone call, so make it the right one. Call Joe D’Andrea.