From White-Collar Criminal to Fraud Investigator

Sam E. Antar is a former certified public accountant whose career trajectory took a remarkable turn from perpetrator to investigator of financial fraud. As the former chief financial officer (CFO) of Crazy Eddie, a major consumer electronics chain in the Northeastern United States during the 1980s, Antar was a key figure in one of the decade’s largest securities fraud schemes.

Professional Transformation

Following his criminal conviction, Antar redirected his expertise toward forensic accounting, leveraging his firsthand knowledge of financial fraud to help combat white-collar crime. His unique perspective and technical expertise have made him an expert advisor to various clients, including:

Government agencies
Law enforcement organizations
Law firms and accounting firms
Independent investment research firms
Hedge funds and public companies

Article: Crazy Like A Fox, Crain's NY Business, October 5-11, 2009 — Crazy Like A Fox, Crain’s NY Business, October 5-11, 2009. Click on image to view PDF.

Investigative Work and Influence

Through his “White Collar Fraud” blog, Antar has established himself as a prominent voice in exposing financial misconduct. His investigative work spans multiple areas:

Government corruption
Campaign finance irregularities
Misappropriation of taxpayer funds
Political manipulation of statistics
Securities fraud
Accounting discrepancies in public companies

Distinctive Investigative Approach

Unlike traditional financial media that reports on existing news or offers commentary, White Collar Fraud conducts original forensic accounting investigations in real-time. Rather than analyzing events after regulatory action or media coverage, Antar’s investigations often precede official scrutiny, using primary source documents and forensic accounting methodologies to uncover patterns of potential misconduct as they develop.

Recognition and Impact

Antar’s analyses have proven valuable to law enforcement and regulatory bodies, including the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and have been used in class action lawsuits against companies with questionable accounting practices. The Journal of Accountancy endorsed his work in December 2008, and the Huffington Post named him among the 25 most influential figures in financial media in June 2012. In 2025, Antar’s investigative work formed the basis of an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into mortgage fraud involving New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Today, Sam Antar continues to serve as a leading authority on white-collar crime, using his experience and expertise to help identify and prevent financial fraud. His transformation from perpetrator to investigator has given him unique insights into the mechanisms of financial crime and the methods needed to combat it.