White Collar Criminal Law Explained

Course Description
Join an acclaimed law school professor to explore the legally treacherous terrain of conspiracy, bribery, money laundering, fraud, obstruction of justice, and other white-collar crimes. Learn how federal cases are built, prosecuted, and defended, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the statutes and strategies that shape this complex field of law.

What You’ll Learn in the Course

• Key statutes governing white-collar crime in the U.S.

• How federal grand juries, prosecutors, and courts handle these cases.

• Crimes like fraud, conspiracy, bribery, extortion, insider trading, and money laundering.

• Defense strategies, plea bargains, and sentencing in white-collar cases.

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Lessons

01: Defining White Collar Crime (33 min)
Explore what sets white-collar crimes apart and why they captivate the public.

02: Anatomy of a Federal White Collar Case (32 min)
Examine the prosecution of former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell as a case study.

03: The Power of the Federal Grand Jury (30 min)
Understand the inner workings and influence of federal grand juries.

04: Grand Jury Procedure and Search Warrants (30 min)
Dive into grand jury secrecy, exculpatory evidence, and search warrant rules.

05: Mail and Wire Fraud and the Nature of Fraud (29 min)
Learn the core elements of mail and wire fraud cases.

06: The Limits of Mail and Wire Fraud (30 min)
See how courts define “property” and limits of fraud prosecution.

07: Honest Services Fraud and Its Evolution (32 min)
Understand this powerful tool for prosecuting political corruption.

08: Conspiracy: A Partnership in Crime (29 min)
Break down the federal conspiracy statute and its prosecutorial advantages.

09: Common Issues in Conspiracy Cases (29 min)
Focus on proving agreements, overt acts, and withdrawal from conspiracies.

10: Public Corruption: Bribery and Gratuities (31 min)
Explore bribery laws, gratuities, and landmark Supreme Court rulings.

11: Extortion by Public Officials (29 min)
Unpack the Hobbs Act and controversies over “official right.”

12: The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (31 min)
Examine how this law combats overseas corruption and multinational bribery.

13: Securities Fraud and Insider Trading (32 min)
Review insider trading theories and their impact on markets.

14: Perjury and the Law of Cover-Up Crimes (32 min)
Study federal perjury statutes and how ambiguity affects these cases.

15: False Statements and Concealment (29 min)
Understand how false statements help prove criminal intent.

16: Obstruction of Justice (33 min)
Explore statutes against evidence tampering, threats, and witness interference.

17: Money Laundering Basics (32 min)
Examine domestic money laundering and landmark DOJ prosecutions.

18: Laundering Money across the U.S. Border (31 min)
Learn how international laundering exploits real estate and global banking.

19: Conspiracy on Steroids: The RICO Statute (32 min)
See how RICO targets organized crime and corporate misconduct.

20: Hacking and Other Computer Crimes (33 min)
Review the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and its applications.

21: Corporate Criminal Liability (31 min)
Trace the history and controversies of corporate liability in U.S. law.

22: Plea Bargains and Immunity Deals (30 min)
Analyze plea agreements, cooperation, and immunity in prosecutions.

23: Defending the White Collar Case (35 min)
Gain defense perspectives through a Q&A with attorney Michael N. Levy.

24: Sentencing White Collar Criminals (32 min)
Understand federal sentencing guidelines and the Booker ruling.