"It's only a white-collar investigation."
The white-collar criminal investigation, code-named Operation Lightning Strike, rocked the space industry in the mid-1990's.
In contrast to drug stings, for example, white-collar criminal investigations often require that agents function within a general business environment, so they routinely come into contact with innocent people and companies.
In contrast with other well-known white-collar investigations, this inquiry begins with the government's having little guidance on where it should be looking.
But they added that white-collar investigations required long and complex paper trails before indictments could be obtained.
The accusations and the effort to detain Mr. Greenberg are unusual in a white-collar investigation involving tax fraud.
"He has made it clear that he will be very aggressive in using RICO in white-collar investigations," said the spokesman, Loye Miller.
Their use with individuals is more common in drug cases than in white-collar investigations.
"The course of this investigation has been faster than almost any of these white-collar investigations."
"I have never been involved in a white-collar investigation of this magnitude," he said.