The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines white-collar crime as “illegal acts which are characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust and which are not dependent upon the application or threat of physical force or violence.” Often times, business and government professionals commit these crimes for financial gain.

The federal government pursues many criminal cases involving white-collar crime. Federal agencies often have the time, resources, and sophistication to conduct wide-scale investigations into fraud cases. Federal white-collar crimes often result when the financial crime involves interstate commerce or the banking industry. The FBI will investigate computer crimes, racketeering (RICO) offenses, and other financial crimes. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigates tax fraud. The Secret Service and the FBI may investigate cases involving counterfeiting. The Postal Service pursues mail fraud cases.

Other common white-collar crimes at the state level may include embezzlement from a local employer, fraud related to worker’s compensation, or misuse of credit cards.

Most white-collar crime involves large sums of money. They may also take significant time and resources to investigate. Thus, criminal charges will more likely be felonies rather than misdemeanors.

The distinction between white-collar crime and blue-collar crime relates to the level of opportunity. White-collar workers, including owners and managers, have different opportunities for theft and other financial crimes than blue-collar workers. Their unlawful conduct is less obvious and harder to track. White-collar offenses most often are non-violent crimes.

In contrast, blue-collar crime involves what many describe as “street crimes.” These crimes fit a more individualized offender/victim paradigm. Blue-collar crime is not a legal term. But social scientists use the term to distinguish other crime from white-collar crime. The term “blue-collar” refers to the working or labor class. The term “white-collar” refers to the management or office-worker class.

For example, a “blue-collar” warehouse worker can steal a product off the warehouse floor. A manager can steal a product using legitimate and illegitimate financial transactions. A blue-collar criminal may use force or weapons to commit a theft from a stranger. A white-collar criminal can use fraud or financial schemes to steal from their employer or several investors.

Identifying the victim of a blue-collar or street crime is not difficult. Yet, in white-collar crime, the method and technique of the crime may make a victim less visible. This also may prevent detection by law enforcement. Sometimes, people think of white-collar crimes as “victimless,” which is wholly untrue. The impact of white-collar crime often affects diverse stakeholders. This may include everyone who pays for the increased operating costs of a business—investors, employees, and consumers.

If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge (traffic related or otherwise), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.