Reference Guide

White Collar Defense

White-collar prosecutions cover fraud, public corruption, and financial crimes investigated through subpoenas and document productions. Most such indictments are anchored by 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud) and 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy).

Federal courthouse — Southern District of California

The Investigative Phase

Subpoenas, warrants, and interviews

White-collar investigations typically run for months or years before charges. The government gathers records by grand jury subpoena and interviews witnesses.

Targets often learn of the investigation through third parties — a bank, an employer, or a business partner served with a subpoena.

The Charging Phase

Fraud, conspiracy, and related counts

The usual indictment pairs wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 with conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 371, and adds mail fraud, money laundering, or false statement counts as the facts allow.

Each mailing or wire can be a separate count, which is how a single scheme becomes a multi-count indictment.

The Corydon Law Research Desk

Each reference page links the statute or rule it describes, quoted from the primary source. Browse the depth library for the full set.

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Related Pages

Published by the Corydon Law Research Desk — John D. Kirby, publisher — former federal prosecutor. This page is reference information about federal law and procedure, not legal advice.