Every year, white collar crimes in the United States garner a lot of attention, mostly because the crimes are so high profile and so costly. Keep reading to learn about some of the most noteworthy of 2025. 

White Collar Crime in the United States

White collar crime is a big business in the United States. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), white collar crime is estimated to cost the United States more than $300 billion annually, although other estimates have it costing more than one trillion dollars. It is tough to put a totally accurate number on the damages caused by white collar crime because so much of it goes unreported or unrevealed. 

One would expect that the most convictions for white collar crime would take place in large, urban cities. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case according to the data. TRAC Reports issued the most updated report of US cities with the highest white collar crime conviction rates, and they include: the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Northern District of Mississippi, and the District of Montana. All of these areas have the highest per capita prosecution and conviction rates for white collar crime. 

It may not be surprising to know that 75% of white collar crime is committed by males, mostly white males (62%). The majority of white collar crimes committed in the United States are fraud related and involve embezzling or the stealing of money through misappropriation from an organization. The cost of these types of crimes, generally hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the fact that they are committed by people in powerful executive positions, are what makes white collar crimes so interesting to the masses. 

Significant White Collar Crimes in 2025

If you are the victim of a white collar crime, there is no doubt it is unforgettable to you. However, there are some white collar crimes that occur every year that are memorable to everyone who hears about them. Some of these indelible white collar crimes for 2025 include: 

• Ippei Mizuhara Case: Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter and friend of Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani, was convicted of stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani in February of 2025. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return, and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution to Ohtani. 

This white collar crime case was not only the topic of conversation in the United States, but created an international media frenzy because of who was involved, the amount of money that was included, and the connection to a federal gambling investigation. 

• Sean “Diddy” Combs Case: Sean “Diddy” Combs was an international superstar in the music, fashion, and entertainment industries. When he was indicted on federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, as well as multiple civil lawsuits for other charges, the interest from the public was immense. The allegations against him were shocking, but so was the video footage released that showed him violently attacking his then girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, at a hotel in 2016. 

Combs was ultimately found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in July of 2025 and sentenced to 50 months in prison. Combs settled out of court with Ventura, but still faces numerous lawsuits alleging sexual assault and abuse. 

• Bradley Heppner Case: Bradley Heppner was indicted this month, November 2025, on multiple federal charges related to a fraud scheme costing investors in his company more than $150 million. Heppner was the founder and CEO of Beneficient and GWG holdings. Heppner created a shell company, HCLP, to aid in misappropriating funds by creating a $141 million debt owed to it from Beneficient. 

Heppner faces charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, false statements to auditors, and falsification of records, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The case is being handled by the Southern District of New York’s Securities and Commodities Task Force. 

The Cost of White Collar Crime

While the monetary cost of white collar crimes in the United States is staggering at hundreds of billions of dollars, the societal costs are just as high. Decreased trust in the government, loss of jobs, increased costs for goods and services and reputational damage all make our communities weaker. White collar crime is definitely not a victimless crime and can negatively impact whole societies. 

If you or someone you know has been accused of a white-collar crime, reach out to the team at the Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot today!