Whether or not you knew charges were coming, being formally charged with a white collar crime can be shocking. You may not know what to do or whom to turn to for help. However, the best thing to do is to contact an experienced Chicago white collar crime defense attorney as soon as possible.
In fact, even if you think you are being investigated for a crime or will soon be charged with a crime, you should contact an attorney. The sooner you can have one on your side, the better the outcome of your case. White collar crimes can be complicated to defend as they require intensive research and facing federal prosecutors.
Defining White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes are sometimes referred to as corporate crimes as they typically occur in a corporate setting. They are non-violent crimes commonly committed by business or government professionals for financial gain. A sociologist coined the term white collar crime in 1939, which referred to crimes committed by respectable professionals with high social status. According to the FBI, white collar crimes are characterized by any or all of the following:
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