As any good white collar crime lawyer knows, bad guys come in all shapes and sizes. There are some people who are very good at hiding their malicious activities behind an expensive suit and legitimate degree. Even though people convicted of nonviolent crimes like tax evasion and drug possession often have access to everything they need to live on the right side of the law, temptation gets the better of them. Unfortunately, their decisions ultimately lead to pain, poverty, and sometimes even prison time. Just ask these famous white collar criminals.

Jack Abramoff

A now-famous political lobbyist, Abramoff was convicted of defrauding Native American tribes out of millions of dollars as well as bribing government officials. The penalty was six years in prison and the order to pay $25 million in restitution to those he robbed.

Bernard Ebbers

This Canadian businessman was the CEO of WorldCom and was lauded as the person who led that company’s acquisition of a competitor, MCI. Unfortunately, the company’s stocks soon began to decline, revealing the fact that much of what Ebbers owned had been purchased with loans that used his stock as collateral. Ultimately, he was accused of stealing a massive $11 billion and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Rita Crundwell

Crundwell built her reputation as one of the world’s best American quarter horse breeders, but she used her position as a public official  –instead of her earnings– to finance a lavish lifestyle. For 20 years she used her job as a Illinois comptroller to embezzle over $50 million from the town that employed her. She pled guilty to her crimes and was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison.

The lesson, of course, is to avoid even the appearance of a crime, even if it doesn’t seem like there are any victims. If it’s too late for that, a white collar crime lawyer can help you fight for the best possible outcome.