As United States Attorney, he undertook successful crackdowns on organized crime, white-collar fraud and drug trafficking.

"But it's a low priority prosecutorially, because, like other white-collar fraud, it has to compete with other kinds of cases for precious resources."

De Silva's legal expertise includes war crimes,crimes against humanity, espionage, treason, drugs, terrorism, human rights, white-collar fraud and sports law.

He has prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, including public corruption, white-collar fraud, money laundering, organized crime and drug-trafficking cases.

But beyond that, Mr. Morgenthau is arguing that investigations of white-collar and financial fraud in Manhattan deliver "an enormous financial return."

Most white-collar fraud is not committed by "corporate kingpins"; it is perpetrated by midlevel employees who make less than a year's salary in the process.

They have decades of experience investigating public corruption, white-collar fraud and organized crime.

Such efforts to rein in municipal corruption, white-collar fraud and organized crime have long been the F.B.I.'s stock in trade.

The son would defend none of the racketeers or white-collar frauds whom the father seemed not only to relish, but also acquit with astonishing frequency.

Currently, according to the sponsors, conspiracy carries a maximum five-year prison term for convictions related to white-collar fraud.