Types of White Collar Crimes in Texas (2025)

Violent crime is often what comes to mind when people think of the criminal justice system. However, many of the most serious crimes are white-collar crimes. These are non-violent crimes that involve some type of fraudulent or manipulative activity. If you’ve been accused of a white-collar crime, it’s important to know the different types of white-collar crimes in Texas so you can understand the charges against you.

What Are White-Collar Crimes?

The phrase white-collar crime was created to refer to a crime committed by a business or government employee in which they exploit a position of trust. In exchange for these jobs, these employees must act honestly and with integrity. White-collar crimes are commonly committed to make money for the person committing the crime. Many white-collar crimes are done through misrepresenting information, manipulation, fraud, or embezzlement.

Texas white-collar crime laws can also be federal white-collar crime laws. In other words, the Texas state government and the federal government have jurisdiction over these crimes. If you are facing a white-collar crime, there’s a high chance that the case will be a matter that the federal government is also investigating.

In some situations, these crimes are not only in the state’s jurisdiction, but they involve crossing state lines, using the U.S. mail or banking system, or violating federal law. There are several different types of white-collar crimes that a person can be charged with.

Fraud

One of the most common types of white-collar crimes is fraud. Fraud occurs when a person intentionally misrepresents facts for personal, professional, or financial gain. There are a number of different types of fraud, including:

• Securities fraud. This refers to misleading investors or using dishonest manipulation in financial areas.
• Insurance fraud. This can be achieved by filing false claims or doing other dishonest things to collect benefits that the person or company is not entitled to.
• Credit card fraud. This can include utilizing another person’s or business’s personal information to steal finances.
• Mortgage fraud. This involves lying on paperwork to obtain property.

Fraud cases can often be quite complex due to the large number of documents, financial records, and electronic evidence that must be sorted through and analyzed.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement is defined as the act of taking money or property that was entrusted to you. A common example is an employee of a company transferring company funds to their personal bank account. Additionally, embezzlement applies when someone, like a financial manager, uses client money entrusted to them for unauthorized purposes.

Money Laundering

Money laundering is the act of making illegally obtained money appear to be earned through legal means. Criminals hide illicit money sources using shell companies and offshore accounts through financial transactions that obscure the origin of the funds.

The fact that money laundering is typically a part of other illegal activities, such as drug trafficking or organized crime, makes it a serious offense in the eyes of state and federal law enforcement. Conviction results in lengthy incarceration terms and the seizure of assets related to the criminal operation.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing white-collar crimes in Texas. The crime involves stealing personal details like social security numbers and bank account numbers to use them fraudulently.

Texas has enacted strong identity theft laws, and penalties can increase when crimes are committed against vulnerable populations, like the elderly. Victims of identity theft can spend years trying to restore their credit and financial well-being.

Additional Types of White Collar Crimes

There are other white-collar crimes that are charged in Texas and throughout the rest of the nation, including:

• Bribery
• Corruption
• Tax evasion
• Healthcare fraud
• Extortion
• Insider trading

Additionally, many internet crimes are considered to be white-collar crimes. In 2024, Texas ranked number two in internet crimes in the United States. Texans reported a total of $1.35 billion in losses, which was an increase of $328 million from the previous year.

About Us

Federal and former state prosecutor Michael J. Uhl brings more than 20 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney to the defense of individuals and businesses in white-collar crime cases. Attorney Uhl’s practice is located in Dallas, near the George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building.

FAQs

What Is a White-Collar Crime in Texas?

A white-collar crime in Texas is typically a non-violent crime that is committed for financial or personal gain through deceit, abuse of trust, or other fraudulent means. It is also associated with a business or professional environment in which the crime takes place. White-collar crimes often involve complex financial transactions or schemes.

What Are Five Common White-Collar Crimes?

Five common examples of white-collar crime are fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, bribery, and insider trading. All of these offenses share some dishonest act or abuse of power to achieve financial gain. The state and federal governments aggressively prosecute these financial crimes because they involve complex dealings with financial records and electronic evidence, as well as business transactions.

What Are the Different Types of White-Collar Crimes?

There are several different types of white-collar crimes. The most familiar ones are securities fraud, health care fraud, identity theft, tax evasion, computer crimes, and corruption. In Texas, the same crime may be a state or federal offense, depending on its reach. Regardless of the type, they all typically involve deception for personal benefit.

What Type of White-Collar Crime Is Most Common in Texas?

Fraud is among the most commonly prosecuted crimes in the state of Texas, especially in the context of white-collar crime. Texans lose billions of dollars each year to fraudulent schemes, according to FBI reports. Fraud is one of the most common and costly financial crimes to individuals and businesses in the state.

Hire a White-Collar Crime Lawyer

If you have been accused of a white-collar crime, don’t make the mistake of handling the charges on your own. Hire a white-collar crime lawyer today. A white-collar crime attorney at Michael Uhl, P.C. can help you fight for your future. Contact us to get started.