White collar crimes are not violent, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any victims. These types of crimes are extremely destructive and can destroy a business, wipe out a person’s retirement, decimate an individual’s life savings, and leave investors billions of dollars in the hole.
Because of this, white collar crimes are on the radars of federal and state law enforcement while prosecutors spend countless hours building cases against those charged with the crimes. If you have been charged with a white collar crime in Nevada, there are harsh penalties that can follow if convicted.
Here’s what you need to know.
What are white collar crimes?
The majority of white collar crimes are based on some type of financial fraud or have a major component of fraud. They are typically committed by business professionals or businesses or even by government officials. Types of these crimes include:
- Wire fraud
- Corporate fraud
- Embezzlement
- Securities fraud
- Mail fraud
- Forgery
- Ponzi schemes
- Health care fraud
- Money laundering
- Credit card fraud
- Bank fraud
- Investment scams
- Insurance fraud
- Public corruption
- Identity theft
- Mortgage fraud
- Bribery
- Government fraud
This is not a complete list, but these are some of the most common types of white collar crimes.
Who investigates white collar crimes?
Depending on the type of crime, the amount of money, and the players involved in the crime, local, state, and federal law enforcement can be involved in a white collar crime investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) often takes the lead on many of these types of cases, but other federal agencies may also be included, such as:
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
- Internal Revenue Service
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Securities and Exchange Commission
Local and state law enforcement often work with federal investigators to help build a case.
How long does it take to investigate white collar crimes?
While most criminal investigations begin with an arrest, most white collar crimes begin with the investigation which leads to an arrest. Often, law enforcement gets information from the public, or a victim files a report and they will begin their investigation from that information.
From there, they will subpoena files, emails, phone records, and other documents. They may conduct surveillance such as a wiretap, electronic intercept, or physically watch a certain person or location. This typically requires approval which is based on evidence that has already been collected. They may also try to get a search warrant.
When enough evidence has been gathered, they will either make an arrest or will notify the individual or individuals by letter that they are the target of an investigation.
What should you do if you are arrested for a white collar crime?
If you suspect that you are the target of a white collar crime investigation, or if you have received a notice confirming that you are, your first step should be to get a criminal defense attorney. If you are being investigated at the federal level, you want to find a lawyer who has experience in not only federal criminal court, but experience defending individuals charged with white collar crimes.
When you are under investigation, law enforcement has the authority to freeze your bank accounts and other assets to use as evidence in the case they are building against you. Any lawful accounts that are not connected to criminal activity should be secured immediately. Take the steps you need to in order to protect those legal accounts.
If you are arrested or questioned by investigators, you have a right to maintain your silence after an arrest as well as before. No matter what the investigators may tell you, you do not have to talk to them. Do not, under any circumstances, talk to anyone about the case or answer any questions without having your attorney present.
If the press attempts to contact you, which often happens in high-profile cases, don’t talk. Presenting your story to the “court of public opinion” is a very bad idea and more times than not it does not end well for the accused.
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