Missouri residents might be surprised to hear about federal fraud charges brought against reality star British Williams. The charges include misuse of a Social Security number, bank fraud, false statements to the IRS, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. What are...
What are defenses to IRS tax fraud charges?
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) brings tax fraud charges against businesses or individuals accused of intentionally and willfully falsifying information on their returns to avoid paying the taxes they owe. Since paying taxes in the U.S. is a voluntary system, the...
Is it still embezzlement if an employee intends to repay the money?
You may work in your company’s finance department, dealing with thousands of dollars of transactions and cash management. When you face an unexpected costly medical bill, you may feel tempted to use some of the money from your company to pay it off quickly. You plan...
Defining bribery in Missouri
Missouri imposes serious penalties for both offering and accepting bribes. Bribery involves offering money or another benefit to a public servant in exchange for favorable treatment or action by that person. Review the specifics of bribery and common actions that may...
3 types of asset forfeitures
White-collar crime, a term used since the 1930s, includes of offenses such as health care fraud, bribery, embezzlement and money laundering. According to TRAC Reports, the Justice Department filed 234 new white-collar crime suits in December 2020. To combat...
What does Missouri law say about forgery?
To try to illegally acquire medicine from a pharmacy, a criminal may produce a prescription with a doctor’s signature. The problem is that the signature is not real. The fraudster had actually copied the signature onto the prescription paper. This is a classic example...
What is healthcare fraud?
If you, a group of people or a company knowingly misstates or misrepresents something about the nature, scope or type of a medical service provided, healthcare fraud occurs. This often results in the insurer or company making unauthorized payments to receive a...
The many forms of white-collar crime include mail fraud
Mail fraud involves a scheme to defraud for the purpose of obtaining money or property for something to be sent using the U.S. Postal Service. A federal investigation can usually pinpoint illegal use of the U.S. mail fairly quickly, but proving intent is more...
Some activities that may lead to a money laundering charge
Business owners may find themselves facing allegations of money laundering in a variety of ways, such as by hiring undocumented workers. According to the American Bar Association, the U.S. government may view hiring employees to work "off the books" as a means...
Tax Evasion vs. Tax Avoidance: What Are the Legal Risks?
Let’s face it—the word “taxes” alone can be a major stress inducer for most people. A main reason for this is the underlying fear of making a mistake that could lead to an IRS audit, potentially resulting in hefty fines, penalties, or even a jail sentence. In the past...
