Specialized White Collar Crimes
Lawyer in Nashville, TN

Many different offenses may be considered "white-collar crimes." In most instances, these crimes are tried by the prosecution's presentation of a "paper trail" of transactions or other administrative actions by the accused. A white-collar crime is an illegal act that is committed through the use of deception, concealment, or misrepresentation. These types of crimes involve a breach of trust or fiduciary duty which is committed by someone in a position of power and authority. The essence of white-collar crime is that it involves a breach of trust for financial gain. White collar crimes can be committed by individuals or companies who have a position of power or authority within society.

Some of the most common white-collar charges include:

• WIRE FRAUD: Similar to mail fraud, this is when someone tries to scheme someone else out of money using the internet, by phone, by email, or by other forms of electronic communication. Phishing is one of the most common wire fraud schemes.
• EMBEZZLEMENT: When someone misappropriated funds that another person or company entrusted with them.
• MONEY LAUNDERING: When funds obtained illegally are “cleaned” by making it look like they were earned through a legitimate business.
• INSURANCE FRAUD: As a white-collar crime, insurance fraud is when a manager, executive, or another person in a position of power misrepresents aspects of an insurance policy for financial gain.
• INSIDER TRADING: When a person trades stock based on confidential information they have privileged access to. It’s illegal because they use insider information (which isn’t open to the public) for financial gain.
• INVESTMENT FRAUD: When a person or company scams a person into investing money into something that only truly benefits the fraudster. Ponzi schemes/pyramid schemes, real estate investment fraud, cryptocurrency-related investment fraud, and internet investment fraud are the most common.
• MAIL FRAUD: When someone attempts to scheme another person out of money and uses mail, such as by mailing them fake invoices or stealing their mail to get their checks, social security numbers, credit/debit cards, etc.

Penalties for these crimes often vary by the amount of money stolen and the scope of the alleged offense.  White-collar crimes are often thought of as "victimless" offenses. In reality, these crimes can have devastating impacts on the victims, their families, and their communities. They also carry heavy penalties that can permanently alter one's future. These offenses are often "stacked" to reflect habitual behavior. In these cases, penalties can add up fast and, if convicted, severely affect the trajectory of one's life.

If convicted of a white-collar crime, you may face the following penalties:

• Jail time
• Hefty fines
• Criminal record
• Difficulty finding a job, housing, etc.

Many white-collar crimes are investigated and prosecuted by federal authorities. Often, white-collar crimes cross state lines and may involve acts such as wire fraud or mail fraud. Federal conviction rates are high, and the United States District Attorney’s Office often has substantial resources to prosecute cases of this nature fervently. Due to the high financial stakes involved in a case, federal prosecutors are often motivated to pursue the prosecution of white-collar criminals aggressively.

In addition to the financial incentive for prosecutors, federal criminal law also provides an opportunity for enhanced sentencing based on aggravating factors in most white-collar crime cases. Because of these factors, individuals convicted of white-collar crimes may face harsher penalties than those convicted of similar offenses under state laws.