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Father and son face federal white-collar crime charges

White-collar crime is a broad legal term that includes a variety of criminal activities. One of the most common types of white-collar crime is fraud. While fraud itself is a broad term, it is generally defined as an act involving dishonesty used to induce some behavior or act on behalf of the victim. What distinguishes a white-collar crime involving fraud from other forms of fraud is the motivation. In a white-collar crime the motivation is always financial.

Federal authorities in California have charged a father and son on separate federal offenses stemming from fraudulent activities. According to news reports, the father was arrested for allegedly sending fake invoices to businesses. The invoices were sent in the name of a fake company claiming to be a state agency. The invoices were sent to thousands of companies and caused 5,000 small business owners to send checks in the amount of $225 to the man.

In a separate action, authorities arrested the man's son on federal fraud charges following an alleged conspiracy to take over lines of credit on home equity loans. Following a federal investigation both men were arrested at Los Angeles International Airport. According to the United States Attorney's Office, the men were preparing to board a plane to Moscow when officers arrested them. The men face between 20 and 30 years in federal prison if convicted.

Federal white-collar criminal charges can carry very serious criminal penalties. It is vital that individuals facing charges for white-collar criminal offenses to understand their legal rights. While an indictment for white-collar crimes may feel like the end of the world, there are actually a number of legal defense strategies that can be employed. What legal defense is best for a given situations depends entirely on the facts of the case.

Source: LA Times, "Father and son arrested at LAX, charged in separate fraud schemes," Adolfo Flores, May 10, 2013

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