Cleveland, OH criminal defense attorney Jay Milano talks about white collar crime cases. He mentions that white-collar crime, as the name suggests, is typically “businessman crime”—fraud committed by professionals. These cases often involve doctors, accountants, insurance agents, or other professionals who may take shortcuts, overbill, or manipulate records. One example he cites is mortgage fraud, where individuals inflate values or fudge records to secure loans or advantages. The frightening part, he notes, is the involvement of federal authorities: the FBI may leave a card at your door requesting a conversation, and anything said during that meeting is meticulously recorded and can be used against you in court.

He emphasizes a stark contrast with street crime: while white-collar offenders are committing serious financial crimes, their sentences often pale in comparison. For instance, one might receive probation for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, while someone selling drugs for personal use could face eight years in prison.