The term “white collar crime” is used to group offenses related to financial crimes and other crimes that result in illegal gains. While many white collar defendants are white collar professionals, don’t make the mistake of assuming that blue collar workers are immune from facing these charges. Continue reading for examples of white collar crimes involving blue collar workers.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement – the theft of money or property from one’s employer – is one of the most commonly charged white collar crimes. You do not have to be a C-suite executive to embezzle money from an employer. Cashiers, shift managers, and servers are examples of blue collar workers who can face embezzlement charges.
Check Fraud
Writing checks is becoming a thing of the past, but anyone with a checking account can be charged with check fraud. There is a distinction between simply writing back checks (checks that “bounce” due to insufficient funds) and committing check fraud. There must be evidence that someone is deliberately writing bad checks to bring fraud charges.
Bankruptcy Fraud
Anyone filing for bankruptcy has the potential to be charged with bankruptcy fraud. Examples of bankruptcy fraud include:
- Failing to disclose assets.
- Filing bankruptcy under a false identity.
- Hiding money by transferring it to friends and family.
- Repeatedly taking on debt with the intent to file for bankruptcy.
Regardless of what you do for a living, white collar crimes can lead to severe penalties, including prison time and substantial fines. Therefore, it is crucial to seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney if you face white collar charges in Wisconsin or at the federal level.
