Is it that white collar crime is increasing?  Is it that the press is reporting more white collar related stories?  Is it that prosecutors are prosecuting more white collar crimes?  From a term coined by Edwin Sutherland in 1939, "white collar crime" has certainly become a common theme these days.  Just looking at some of the white collar related stories in this weekend’s newspapers across the country present evidence of this –

Washington Post (AP) here –Religion-Related Fraud Getting Worse

Washington Post here – 12 File to Oppose Rep. Jefferson

Lexington Herald here – Insider Trading Case Dropped (discussing federal prosecutors dropping an insider trading case upon receipt of new evidence)

Lexington Herald here – Judge: Fletcher Cannot Be Tried (discussing the state court’s holding that the Kentucky Governor cannot be prosecuted on 3 criminal misdemeanor charges until the state legislature either impeaches him or he is voted out of office)

Indianapolis Star here – Con Artists Tailor Pitch to Elderly

LATimes here – Juicy Details in Option Scandal (discussing stock option backdating scandal and former Comverse Technology Inc. executives)

NYTimes here – Secrets in the Pipeline (discussing "private investment in public equity" issues)

Boston Herald here – Testimony ‘Irreconcilable’: Perjury Charge Eyed  (discussing prosecutors considering perjury charges against a state representative)

(esp)