When you run across a news headline detailing a white collar crime, the details are often grim. The person accused of the crime may face a list of serious state and federal charges. This is because white collar crime can be extremely complex, and it is taken seriously by authorities. If you have been accused of a white collar crime in Nebraska, you may understandably be worried and concerned.
What exactly is white collar crime? According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, this type of criminal activity is often financially motivated, nonviolent and involves those in high positions in corporate, government or professional settings. Often, white collar crimes come with a hefty felony charge. Identity theft is a type of white collar crime that is growing every day. Other common crimes of this nature include bribery, embezzlement, stock manipulation, tax evasion and fraud. Those accused of fraud might have been defrauding home and auto insurance agencies, medical insurers or government programs. For example, it is quite common for people to make false claims and receive funds or services with Medicaid or Social Security.
Sometimes, people get caught up in a white collar crime without realizing they are committing illegal acts, due to the complex and often insidious nature of some white collar schemes. In other cases, a person may commit a seemingly minor fraudulent act without intending it to go far, only to become caught up in a complicated legal web. For these reasons, the information in this blog should not be substituted for the advice of a criminal defense lawyer.