Savings and Loan Fraud as Organized Crime: Toward a Conceptual Typology of Corporate Illegality

• NCJ Number: 145957
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1993) Pages: 519-548
• Author(s): K Calavita; H N Pontell
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 30 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-IJ-CX-0059
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NIJ Reprint

Annotation

The authors set forth a classification system for white-collar crimes based on the nature of the offense rather than the status of the offender.

Abstract

Using government documents, interviews with FBI investigators and thrift regulators, and other sources, the authors analyzed patterns of crime in the savings and loan industry, and concluded that such conspiracies are better classified as "organized" than "corporate" crimes. Examination of motives and methods acknowledges that corporate managers may conspire to commit crimes for personal gain, without regard for their corporation; also, it provides for a better understanding of different types of thrift fraud. The typology can be applied as well to fraud in other financial institutions--credit unions, the insurance industry, and pension funds--that manage large sums of other people's money and promise future services. 88 references