Aiding
and Abetting/Accessory
A criminal charge of aiding and abetting or accessory can
usually be brought against anyone who helps in the commission
of a crime, though legal distinctions vary by state. A person
charged with aiding and abetting or accessory is usually not
present when the crime itself is committed, but he or she has
knowledge of the crime before or after the fact, and may
assist in its commission through advice, actions, or financial
support. Depending on the level of involvement, the offender's
participation in the crime may rise to the level of
conspiracy.
Bribery
The crime of giving or taking money or
some other valuable item in order to influence a public
official (any governmental employee) in the performance of
his/her duties. Bribery includes paying to get government
contracts (cutting in the roads commissioner for a secret
percentage of the profit), giving a bottle of liquor to a
building inspector to ignore a violation or grant a permit, or
selling stock to a Congressman at a cut-rate price. Example:
Governor (later Vice President) Spiro T. Agnew received five
cents from the concessionaire for each pack of cigarettes sold
in the Maryland capitol building. The definition has been
expanded to include bribes given to corporate officials to
obtain contracts or other advantages which are against company
policy.
Computer
Crime
Computer crime laws in many
states prohibit a person from performing certain acts without
authorization, including (1) accessing a computer, system, or
network; (2) modifying, damaging, using, disclosing, copying,
or taking programs or data; (3) introducing a virus or other
contaminant into a computer system; (4) using a computer in a
scheme to defraud; (5) interfering with someone else’s
computer access or use; (6) using encryption in aid of a
crime; (7) falsifying e-mail source information; and (8)
stealing an information service from a provider.
Counterfeit
(1) Describing a document,
particularly money, which is forged or created to look real
and intended to pass for real; (2)to criminally forge or print
a false copy of money, bonds, or other valuable documents,
intending to profit from the falsity; shorthand for phony
money passed for real.
Conspiracy
When
people work together by agreement to commit an illegal act. A
conspiracy may exist when the parties use legal means to
accomplish an illegal result, or to use illegal means to
achieve something that in itself is lawful. To prove a
conspiracy those involved must have agreed to the plan before
all the actions have been taken, or it is just a series of
independent illegal acts. A conspiracy can be criminal for
planning and carrying out illegal activities, or give rise to
a civil lawsuit for damages by someone injured by the
conspiracy. Thus, a scheme by a group of salesmen to sell used
automobiles as new, could be prosecuted as a crime of fraud
and conspiracy, and also allow a purchaser of an auto to sue
for damages for the fraud and conspiracy.
Disorderly
Conduct
(1) actions that disturb others; (2) minor criminal offenses,
such as public drunkenness, loitering, disturbing the peace,
and loud threats or parties.
Embezzlement
The crime of stealing
the funds or property of an employer, company or government or
misappropriating money or assets held in trust.
Extortion
Obtaining money or property by threat to a victim's property
or loved ones, intimidation, or false claim of a right (such
as pretending to be an IRS agent). It is a felony in all
states, except that a direct threat to harm the victim is
usually treated as the crime of robbery. Blackmail is a form
of extortion in which the threat is to expose embarrassing,
damaging information to family, friends or the public.
Indecent
Exposure
The crime of displaying one's genitalia to one or more other
people in a public place, usually with the apparent intent to
shock the unsuspecting viewer and give the exposer a sexual
charge.
Money
Laundering
Money laundering is the
investment or transfer of money from racketeering, drug
transactions or other embezzlement schemes so that it appears
that its original source either cannot be traced, or appears
to be legitimate.
Perjury
The crime of intentionally lying after being duly sworn (to
tell the truth) by a notary public, court clerk or other
official. This false statement may be made in testimony in
court, administrative hearings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, as well as by signing or acknowledging a
written legal document (such as affidavit, declaration under
penalty of perjury, deed, license application, tax return)
known to contain false information. Although it is a crime,
prosecutions for perjury are rare, because a defendant will
argue he/she merely made a mistake or misunderstood.
Prostitution
The profession of performing sexual acts for money.
Prostitution is a crime throughout the United States, except
for a few counties in the state of Nevada, where it is allowed
in licensed houses of prostitution. Soliciting acts of
prostitution is also a crime, called pandering or simply,
soliciting. Pandering on behalf of a prostitute is called
pimping.
Pyramid
Schemes
Pyramid Schemes may involve a
structure that is laid out like a pyramid, with one person at
the top, two persons on the next level, four on the next and
eight on the next. The structure may also be circular with one
person at the center, two on the next, four on the next and
eight persons on the outer circle. The circular structure is
merely a view of a pyramid looking from the top down. Pyramid
selling is illegal because it runs on the basis that
participants in the pyramid are required to contribute
something of value, usually money, and then by reason of the
contributions of other participants they become entitled to
something of greater value, usually a larger sum of money. In
order for any participant to become entitled to more than was
contributed, a larger number of new participants is required.
If every person who was approached to participate did,
eventually the pyramid would fail. Earlier participants in a
pyramid selling scheme are more likely to benefit than later
participants. The effect is that while a few benefit the
majority do not.
Racketeering
The federal crime of
conspiring to organize to commit crimes, particularly as a
regular business ("organized crime" or "the
Mafia").
Racketeer
Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Statue
A federal law which
makes it a crime for organized criminal conspiracies to
operate legitimate businesses.
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