American innovation may be legendary, but it has a dark side. White-collar crime is on the rise, with disastrous consequences for ordinary Americans. Yet often it's unclear who will pay for the crimes committed. In Capital Offenses, Samuel Buell draws on his personal experience leading the investigation into the biggest white-collar case in U.S. history to present an in-depth examination of business crime today. Detailing the complex legal framework that governs corporations, Buell shows that deciphering business crime is rarely black or white. In lucid, thought-provoking prose, Buell reveals the depth of the legal issues at stake, delving into fraud practices, the art of "loopholing," the difficulty of prosecuting corporations, and the work of white-collar-crime prosecutors. Capturing an important story at the heart of American politics, law, and economics, Capital Offenses delivers a forceful argument for ushering in a more ethical age for corporate America.