Every year, Michigan residents are assessed taxes at both the state and federal level. The tax code is complex, and it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly what you may owe and what deductions you are able to take. Making a mistake on your taxes isn't a crime,...
White Collar Crimes
The penalties for embezzlement in Michigan
Michigan law defines embezzlement as the theft or misappropriation of funds or property that has been entrusted to an individual by another person or a business. A store clerk who takes money out of a cash register and an executor who misappropriates estate assets...
Michigan nonprofit director charged with fraud
A Michigan woman who served as the director of a nonprofit organization that provided housing services to low-income Detroit residents is facing a raft of federal charges including multiple counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity...
Michigan man charged with Medicaid fraud
A Michigan man who operated a consulting firm in Detroit has been accused of defrauding Medicaid. The 59-year-old Livonia resident was arraigned on four counts of Medicaid fraud in an East Lansing District Court on Feb. 14. Each count carries a maximum custodial...
What is counterfeiting?
Counterfeiting is punishable both at a state and federal level in Michigan. Most people think of counterfeiting as making fake money, but it includes fake products, dishonest marketing and willful possession of counterfeit items. Trademark and identifying mark...
Former House staffers charged with embezzlement
A married couple who once held senior positions in former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield’s office have been accused of embezzlement. During an arraignment hearing held in an Esat Lansing District Court on Jan 3., the couple entered not guilty pleas to counts of...
IRS and U.S. Treasury monitor tax shelters for abuses
The tax system allows businesses and individuals in Michigan to reduce their tax obligations under certain circumstances. Most retirement accounts represent a legal means for you to set aside money tax free, but you may also encounter other financial arrangements...
Fast-food restaurant workers linked to credit card fraud scheme
When consumers use credit or debit cards, they expect the workers they deal with to protect their sensitive financial information. According to recent media reports, three workers at a popular Michigan City fast-food restaurant failed to do this. The two men and a...
Pump-and-dump schemes
Investors want to receive a return on their investment, and they often rely on legitimate research and data before directing their funds toward an asset such as a stock. Unfortunately, a Michigan investor may discover they relied on inaccurate information or...
What is the RICO Act
Racketeering is commonly associated with organized crime and drug trafficking. The term actually refers to multiple offenses, or rackets, operating as crime rings of an illegal scheme or unlawful business generating a profit. Michigan, like many states, has its own...