Chapter 19
Peeking Inside Federal Government Fraud Cases
In This Chapter
Knowing the basics of federal law and crime categories
Meeting some federal agencies involved in financial crime cases
Learning the steps involved in a federal case
Reacting when a government agent knocks on your client’s door
The reality of life is that not everyone who commits a financial crime is caught. Many people do get caught, however, and if the agency doing the catching is an arm of the federal government, the penalties they face can be very steep.
In this chapter, we look at how financial crimes, including occupational fraud, are investigated and prosecuted by the U.S. government. Federal prosecutors possess tremendous power — the mere prospect of an investigation sends chills down a person’s spine. For a company, a federal investigation or indictment can wreak havoc on its business, including damaging its reputation.
One of the toughest decisions that federal law enforcement agencies face is who to investigate. Law enforcement agencies face many challenges, such as resource constraints in terms of ...
