Geis, Gilbert (1925–)

THE PUBLICATION of “The Heavy Electric Equipment Antitrust Case of 1961,” authored by Gilbert Geis, engendered future generations to the study of white-collar crime. The price-fixing case, first published in 1967 in Marshall Clinard's and Richard Quinney's Criminal Behavior Systems: A Typology, represented a significant landmark in explorations of deviant corporate practices during a time period in which academic interests in white-collar crime had become somewhat complacent. The conduct of some corporate officials, including high-ranking General Electric and Westinghouse Electric executives, was accurately characterized by Geis as flagrant criminal offenses that violated the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. The research illustrated corporate crime by numerous individuals who participated in a price-fixing conspiracy.

Ultimately, grand juries issued 20 indictments for 45 persons and 29 corporations. The majority ...