Violent crimes are often crushing and traumatic, but the same is true of many non-violent crimes, especially those involving deception, broken trust, and breached boundaries. Those are the crimes that public officials, business professionals, and upper-class citizens are most likely to commit. That's why criminologist Edwin H. Sutherland described them as “white collar crimes” in 1939, and the term has stuck.
If you live in Hudson County, New Jersey, and are part of the demographic known for engaging in white collar crimes, understanding them should be among your top priorities. It's crucial for protecting yourself from accusations. A dedicated legal team is equally important, so contact the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team at 888.535.3686 or submit a contact form to see how they can help.
An Overview of White Collar Crime in Hudson County, NJ
White collar crime is a broad category that covers a wide range of illegal activities. New Jersey's definition of white collar crime is mostly universal within its borders, but each county usually has a unique take as well. As a resident of Hudson County, you should know what can get you into trouble.
Types of White Collar Offenses in Hudson County
In Hudson County, the prosecutor's office's Special Investigations Unit handles most white collar crimes—anything “involving some kind of ruse, scam or deception.” The unit names a few specific illegal activities that fall under its purview, including:
Election Fraud
Sometimes, people who crave power and influence set up democratic elections so that they win no matter what votes are cast. There are various methods to do this, such as dismissing opposition votes, bribing voters or voting officials, or hacking voting machines. Known as election fraud, this crime subverts the will of the people, so Hudson County imposes hefty penalties, such as:
- An indictable offense conviction in the third degree.
- Three to five years in prison.
- A maximum fine of $50,000.
Official Misconduct
Everyone who gets elected or appointed to public office is expected to maintain a certain standard of integrity and competence. If they break laws, serve their own interests, abuse their position, act outside their scope of authority, violate the rights or benefits of the people, or otherwise fail in their duties, they could be found guilty of official misconduct. Potential penalties include:
- An indictable offense conviction in the second or third degree.
- A maximum of 10 years in prison.
- Fines up to $150,000.
- Restitution for the victims.
- Forfeiture of assets obtained through the crime, if any.
Bid Rigging
Lots of important jobs, projects, and contracts are decided through bidding. Since winning a bid can lead to substantial profits and prestige, some companies and organizations participate in bid rigging. It typically involves deciding the winner beforehand—sometimes through bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, or extortion—rather than evaluating each bid based on its own merit. Anyone found guilty may face the following consequences:
- An indictable offense conviction in the second or third degree.
- A maximum of 10 years in prison.
- Fines ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 for individuals and $100,000 to $1 million for corporations if committed at the state level.
- Fines up to $1 million for individuals and $100 million for corporations if committed at the federal level.
- Restitution for the victims.
Bribery
Powerful individuals in both the public and private sectors are supposed to refrain from allowing or participating in illegal activities or violations of certain laws and policies. However, some fail to uphold that duty by soliciting, offering, or accepting bribes, such as money, gifts, or perks. Although many people engage in bribery in connection with other crimes, it can also be filed as its own charge.
- An indictable offense conviction in the second or third degree.
- A maximum of 10 years in prison.
- Fines up to $150,000.
Theft of Services
Many services are available only in return for money. After all, individual income and the economy itself depend on such exchanges. That's why it's a serious offense to trick or intimidate someone into providing services for free or at an unreasonably discounted rate. Convictions carry the following penalties:
- A disorderly person or an indictable offense conviction, depending on the monetary value of the services.
- A maximum of six months in prison.
- Fines up to $500 per count.
- Restitution for the victims.
Credit Card Fraud
Another way to steal from people is to use their credit cards. This is often devastating to victims because it can ruin their credit scores and prevent them from paying their own bills. Worse yet, it can take years to fix. For this reason, the courts usually impose these penalties:
- An indictable offense conviction in the third or fourth degree.
- A maximum of 18 months in prison and up to $10,000 in fines for a third-degree offense.
- Three to five years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines for a fourth-degree offense.
- Restitution for the victims.
Embezzlement
A person with the authority or skill to access the funds of a company or organization is in a position to steal the money for their personal use in a process called embezzlement. For this type of theft, the courts may impose the following:
- A disorderly person offense or an indictable offense in the second, third, or fourth degree, depending on how much money was stolen.
- A maximum of six months in prison and a small fine for disorderly person convictions.
- Up to 10 years in prison and $150,000 in fines for indictable offenses.
Cargo Theft
Most companies must use trucks, cars, trains, pipelines, and/or storage facilities to move their goods, products, tools, equipment, and money to various places. It's important for conducting business. Stealing any of these items during the transportation or storage process is known as cargo theft, which the Hudson County courts may punish accordingly:
- A disorderly person or indictable offense conviction in the second, third, or fourth degree, depending on the monetary value of the stolen items.
- A maximum of six months in prison and $100 in fines for disorderly person offenses.
- A maximum of 18 months in prison and $200 to $500 in fines for fourth-degree indictable offenses.
- Three to five years in prison and $500 to $75,000 in fines for third-degree indictable offenses.
- Five to ten years in prison and fines exceeding $75,000 for second-degree indictable offenses.
- Restitution for the victims.
Manufacturing and/or Selling Counterfeit Goods
An alternative to stealing another company's goods to create one's own while trying to pass them off as someone else's to turn a greater profit. Hudson County regards this as manufacturing and/or selling counterfeit goods, which invites these punishments:
- An indictable offense conviction in the second, third, or fourth degree.
- Eighteen months to 10 years in prison.
- Up to $500,000 in fines.
Forgery
An organized and trustworthy business uses a variety of documents to track and protect crucial or sensitive information regarding employees, consumers, business practices, and legal compliance. To get around this, some people fake another person's writing to enforce or feign consent with legitimate documents and/or create completely false documents. Known as forgery, this crime can lead to:
- A disorderly person conviction or an indictable offense in the third or fourth degree, depending on the severity of the violation.
- Eighteen months to five years in prison and fines between $200 and $500 for indictable offenses.
- A maximum of six months in jail and a minimum fine of $100 for disorderly persons convictions.
Prevalence of White Collar Cases in Hudson County
The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) tracks and studies white collar crimes, especially those related to finance, throughout the country. Data suggests that Hudson County may have seen hundreds of thousands of white collar crimes from 2020 to 2024, particularly in casinos and banks.
Astonishingly, these numbers might be on the low end. Since these crimes are often complex, there's sometimes a delay between the commission of white collar crimes and law enforcement's ability to build a strong enough case to file charges. In fact, one study estimates that 90% of white collar crimes are never reported because the victims are either scared of the perpetrators or ignorant of what happened.
Where White Collar Crimes are Prosecuted in Hudson County
Hudson County's Special Investigations Unit doesn't just discover white collar crimes; it prosecutes them, too. Its office is located here:
Hudson County Prosecutor's Office
595 Newark Ave.
Jersey City, NJ, 07306
The office can usually close out simple white collar crime cases in a few weeks. However, more complicated ones can take several years.
How Can the Lento Law Firm Support White Collar Crime Defendants in Hudson County, NJ?
If you're accused of a white collar crime, you could lose all the respect and benefits you've worked so hard to obtain through your career. You need a legal team that cares as much about that as you do.
That describes the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team. Backed by a reputation for perseverance and innovation and a long track record of victory in complex cases, they offer a fervent commitment to your success. Their mere presence at your side implies that you deserve dignity and respect, which will shine through in their personalized defense strategy. A partnership with them is the best investment you can make for your future.
Come to the Lento Law Firm for Help
If you're battling white collar crime allegations in Hudson County, don't underestimate the lasting damage it can cause to your life. Get a top-rated legal team on your side to help you weather the storm and come out stronger than ever. It's possible if you call the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team today at 888.535.3686 or submit a contact form and set up a consultation.
