Because these are white collar crimes. The people writing and voting on criminal legislation are white collar as well, as are the prosecutors and judges in the courts.
So when deciding upon what punishment would be proportionate to the crime, there tends to be more empathy with the defendants as they are part of that same 'in group'.
So when deciding upon what punishment would be proportionate to the crime, there tends to be more empathy with the defendants as they are part of that same 'in group'.