Opportunity Creation by Entrepreneurship: A Case Study of Convenience in White-Collar Crime

Petter Gottschalk1

Abstract
The theory of convenience suggests that white-collar crime is dependent on a
financial motive to explore possibilities and avoid threats, an organizational
opportunity to commit and conceal financial crime, and a personal willingness for
deviant behavior. This article presents a case study where the organizational
setting was symbolic rather than real, and where the entrepreneurial offender was
able to attract investors based on trustworthy allies, impressive business plans, and
global locations. Convenience theory is applied to the case study by identification
of themes relevant to the case. The convicted offender is an interesting example of
an entrepreneurial individual who created opportunities for deviant behavior.

Keywords: Convenience theory; investment fraud; criminal entrepreneurship;
financial motive; organizational opportunity; deviant behavior.