While the original intent of "White Collar Crime" legislation was to classify crimes committed by the wealthy, over the years the laws pertaining to criminal offenses regarded as white collar crimes has expanded to include many forms of fraud, theft, and illegal deceptive practices which affect individuals, businesses, the government, and the American Public.
White collar crimes, include, but are not limited to:
Health Care Fraud • Computer / Internet Fraud • Welfare Fraud • Embezzlement • Securities Fraud • Insurance Fraud • Mortgage Fraud • Mail Fraud • Wire Fraud • Telemarketing Fraud • Pharmaceutical Crimes • Counterfeiting / Forgery • Import / Export Crimes • Extortion • Perjury
A White Collar Crime often involves intentional acts of deception through misrepresentation of facts by one or more individuals for the purpose of:
Many white collar crimes are also be committed by an omission or purposeful failure to state material facts that are required. In short, omitting relevant facts is just as liable as manufacturing facts which are untrue.
In order for the prosecution to obtain a conviction for a white collar crime they must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused person (or persons) intentionally and knowingly committed the criminal offense. If two or more people developed a plan together and/or participated in the crime, conspiracy to commit a fraud may also be charged.