Not every devastating crime is violent. Many of the most serious non-violent crimes are simply variations of deception, breaking trust, and the crossing boundaries. Since they most frequently occur among upper-class citizens, public officials, and/or business professionals, they're often collectively categorized as white collar crimes, a term coined by criminologist Edwin H. Sutherland in 1939.
As a professional residing in Middlesex County in New Jersey, it's important that you familiarize yourself with offenses like these. Understanding them can help you avoid accusations or protect yourself against pending criminal charges. You must also fortify yourself with a strong team of lawyers, so contact the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team at 888.535.3686 or submit a contact form.
An Overview of White Collar Crime in Middlesex County, NJ
How can you tell what counts as white collar crimes in New Jersey, especially Middlesex County? This is an important question to answer if you want to prevent legal trouble or handle any allegations made against you. Here's what you need to know.
Types of White Collar Offenses in Middlesex County
Housed under the category of “Professional Standard” offenses, Middlesex County employs a Special Investigations Unit to address white collar crimes that occur within its borders. They typically deal with state-level crimes on their own, but for federal crimes, they usually work in tandem with the FBI, IRS, Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Inspectors, and/or NJ Division of Criminal Justice. The offenses they most commonly investigate include:
Official Misconduct
Some public officials who fail to perform their duties, violate laws, act in their own interest rather than that of the people, deprive people of their rights or benefits, or abuse or act outside their authority. They are considered guilty of official misconduct. It can carry the following consequences:
- An indictable offense conviction in the second or third degree.
- Up to 10 years in prison.
- A maximum fine of $150,000.
- Forfeiture of any assets obtained through the crime.
- Restitution for the victims.
Bribery
In both the public and private sectors, people with power and authority are expected to do their jobs honestly. They are not to engage in bribery, which includes offering, soliciting, or accepting extra money, perks, or other benefits or “gifts” in return for providing illegal services or failing to uphold laws, rules, or ethical codes. A conviction could result in:
- An indictable offense conviction in the second or third degree.
- Up to 10 years in prison.
- A maximum fine of $150,000.
Fraud
Just as there are many kinds of lies, there are many ways to commit fraud. It generally refers to obtaining information, money, objects, credit, accolades, prestige, or other items through intentional deception. With such a broad definition, it can easily break down into various subcategories. The most common types of fraud are mail, wire, insurance, mortgage, and bank card. Knowingly writing bad checks can be considered fraud as well.
Fraud usually requires access to confidential or highly personal information or accounts, and sometimes specialized equipment. Possible penalties include:
- A disorderly persons conviction for small or first-time violations and indictable offense convictions in the second, third, or fourth degree for more serious or repeated violations.
- Up to six months in prison and $1,000 in fines for disorderly persons convictions.
- Eighteen months to 10 years in prison and up to $150,000 in fines for indictable offenses.
Embezzlement
Similar to fraud, embezzlement involves abusing the trust of a company or individual by using a position of authority or confidential access to steal money from them. New Jersey law refers to it as “theft by unlawful taking.” The court grades and penalizes embezzlement differently depending on the value of the stolen money, but this is what you could expect:
- A disorderly persons or second-, third-, or fourth-degree indictable offense conviction.
- A maximum of six months in prison and a small fine for disorderly person convictions.
- A maximum of 10 years in prison and $150,000 in fines for indictable offenses.
Forgery
Paper trails are supposed to help keep businesses organized, record important information, and demonstrate compliance with laws and consumer expectations. Anyone who creates or alters documents that contain untrue information or agreements to which no one consented is guilty of forgery. The same is true if they attempt to fake another person's writing to enforce said documents or give them a false sense of legitimacy. For this, the court might sentence you to:
- A disorderly persons conviction for small offenses, like altering sales receipts or package labels.
- An indictable offense in the third or fourth degree for more serious violations.
- A maximum of six months in jail and a minimum fine of $100 for disorderly persons convictions.
- Eighteen months to five years in prison and fines between $200 and $500 for indictable offenses.
Money Laundering
People who obtain money illegally often try to avoid suspicion by hiding it in plain sight. Methods could include transferring money to tax havens, passing it through money mule accounts, investing it in real estate or businesses, or placing it in trusts or shell companies, to name a few examples. Known as money laundering, this crime is meant to make the money look “clean” or legitimate. The court could punish you accordingly:
- An indictable offense conviction in the first, second, or third degree.
- Fines up to three times the amount of the money stolen.
- Three to 20 years in prison.
- Suspension of your driver's license for six months to two years if the forgery involved government documents.
Prevalence of White Collar Cases
In an effort to detect patterns, craft effective penalties, and hopefully prevent new crimes, the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) keeps track of white collar crimes committed throughout the country. In Middlesex County, FinCEN recorded more than 50,000 cases of suspicious activity from 2020 to 2024 alone.
According to the numbers, institutions and businesses that directly handle financial information, like banks, credit unions, and any organization that transfers or exchanges money, are by far the most likely to cause trouble. This means that fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and forgery might be the most common white collar crimes in Middlesex County.
There may also be more crimes than what those numbers indicate. White collar crimes are often complex to investigate and prove, so it can take a while for law enforcement to become adequately certain of what they are. Furthermore, one study estimates that 90% of white collar crimes go unreported because the victims either don't fully recognize what happened or they're afraid of the perpetrators.
Where White Collar Crimes are Prosecuted
The Special Investigations Unit prosecutes most white collar crimes in the same place where they build their cases—the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, located at:
Office of the Prosecutor
Public Safety Building
3rd Floor
25 Kirkpatrick St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Depending on the severity and complexity of the case, white collar crimes can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years to prosecute.
How Can the Lento Law Firm Support White Collar Crime Defendants in Middlesex County, NJ?
After all the sweat and tears you've poured into your career, you shouldn't have to see it poured down a drain. The Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team wants to help you salvage it. As soon as you receive notice of the allegations against you, partner with them to guarantee yourself the following advantages:
Excellent Track Record
Just as in business, reputation can have a significant impact on legal matters. Since its inception, the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team has earned renown nationwide for handling a variety of complex and sensitive cases. They have the experience and success rate to command respect for themselves and for you in court. You're more likely to get a favorable outcome with them as your advocate.
Dedication to the Whole Truth
When the Lento Law Firm says that they value the truth, they don't just mean proving your innocence if you're falsely accused. It also means that they consider things like stressors, context, background, and other important factors that tell the whole truth about you when put together. They'll humanize you to the court, ensuring that you're not seen for your alleged crimes alone. This could be the difference between leniency and harsh penalties.
Personalized Services
On a similar note, the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team promises to support you in the way that suits you best. They know the most effective formulas and strategies to win in court, which is one reason for their stellar reputation, but they're also adept at tailoring those strategies to individual situations. You'll feel seen and known, which will show in court and increase your sympathy.
You Can Depend on the Lento Law Firm
Whether you're guilty or innocent, being accused of a white collar crime is often enough to derail your career. Don't let all your hard work and sacrifice go to waste. Call the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team today at 888.535.3686 or submit a contact form to find out how they can protect you from these charges.
