Page 390 - ACFE Fraud Reports 2009_2020

For the cases that were referred to law enforcement, we also asked survey participants about the outcome of the
criminal case. A large number of those cases were still pending at the time of our research. However, in the 390
cases for which an outcome was known, approximately 16% of the perpetrators were convicted at trial, and 56%
pleaded guilty or no contest to their crimes. There were only six cases in which the perpetrator was acquitted.

Result of Cases Referred to Law Enforcement

Pleaded Guilty/ 55.6% 2012
No Contest 65.9%
71.3%
2010
19.2%
Result of Criminal Case Convicted at Trial 7.2% 15.0% 22.7% 2008
Declined to
10.3%
Prosecute
13.7%
16.4%

Other*

1.5%
Acquitted 1.2%
0.0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Percent of Cases
*“Other” category was not included in the prior years’ Reports.

For the 454 cases in which the victim organization did not refer the case to law enforcement, we asked survey
participants to identify the reasons for this decision. The most commonly cited factor was fear of bad publicity, fol-
lowed by a determination that the organization’s internal sanctions were sufficient punishment for the misconduct.

Reason(s) Case Not Referred to Law Enforcement
| 2012 REPORT TO THE NATIONS on occupational FRAUD and abuse
38.3% 2012
Fear of Bad Publicity 42.9%
40.7% 2010
Reason Given for Not Prosecuting Private Settlement 8.1% 11.7% 20.2% 23.5% 28.6% 2008
33.3%
Internal Discipline Sufficient
33.7%
30.5%
20.5%
31.0%
14.5%
Too Costly
Other*

Lack of Evidence
13.1%
4.9%
Civil Suit
0.7% 3.3% 8.4% 11.9%
Perpetrator Disappeared 0.6%
1.8%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
Percent of Cases
*“Other” category was not included in the prior years’ Reports.

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