If you were asked to draw a criminal, what would you draw? Probably you would sketch someone pointing a gun at another person or climbing in through the window of a house to steal something.
You probably would not draw someone sitting at a desk using a computer. Yet that is the reality of many crimes.
So-called white-collar crimes are something anyone that works in an office could find themselves accused of. If you face charges, you need to realize that few people will differentiate if you end up with a criminal record. Many employers and organizations will see you have a criminal record and reject your application, lumping you in with robbers, murderers, drug dealers and career criminals.
That is in addition to the considerable short-term punishments you could face, such as jail time and financial penalties.
How might you become entangled in a white-collar crime?
White-collar crimes are typically about illegal financial interactions. They can stem from genuine accounting errors, inaccurate understanding of information, or the misinterpretation of accounting rules.
Accusations may have a valid basis. Someone you work with or deal with may indeed have committed a white-collar crime, but that does not mean you have or that you knew anything about it.
Intent is crucial
To prove you were guilty of a white-collar crime such as fraud, prosecutors must show that you knew what you were doing, that you intended to deceive someone.
So, even if you were the person that illegally moved money or collected personal data, it does not make you guilty. Maybe you were just following orders from a superior that you assumed were legitimate.
The authorities tend to take a tough approach to white-collar crimes. Be sure to get legal help to present a solid defense of your innocence.
