Why is Money Laundering Considered a White Collar Crime?
“White collar” crimes are usually non-violent acts by people hoping for financial gain. The non-violent aspect of white collar crime does not lessen the seriousness of the charges, but it should be a consideration when the judge or jury is deciding whether to send someone to prison. Money laundering is a serious crime and, if you are convicted, carries with it some stiff criminal penalties. The fact is, these are usually good people who got in over their heads. They’re not bad people, they’re just people with a financial problem. They made bad choices. If they took someone’s money, then we need to make a plan for the money to be paid back, so there is no jail time. Putting someone in prison for years for this type of crime rarely makes sense. What we need to do is help them fix their mistake, so they get their lives back on track and start being productive citizens again.
