Big Think Inside the mind of a white-collar criminal | Kelly Richmond Pope
Nov 9, 2025
In this conversation, Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accounting expert and professor at DePaul University, dives into the complexities of white-collar crime. She introduces the Fraud Triangle—opportunity, rationalization, and pressure—to explain how ordinary people become perpetrators. Kelly discusses varying types of fraudsters, from intentional to accidental, and explores society's fascination with fraud stories. She emphasizes the dangers of corporate culture and how it can lead to unethical behavior, shedding light on the often-overlooked motivations behind these crimes.
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Bag Of Money Classroom Test
- Kelly uses a classroom thought experiment about a visible bag of money to show how people rationalize theft.
- Students immediately ask about cameras, amount, and context, revealing how reward and risk shape decisions.
Three Perpetrator Types
- Not all perpetrators are the same; distinct types explain motives and reactions.
- Kelly defines intentional, accidental, and righteous perpetrators to clarify differences.
Dixon’s Long Hidden Embezzlement
- Rita Cronwell embezzled $53.7 million over 20 years by exploiting trust as Dixon's city comptroller.
- Her likability and authority let her hide the scheme and fund an extravagant personal life.
