This article reflects the cause and effect relationship when proper business ethics are not followed.  JPMorgan was willing to sell mortgages and invest when it deemed too risky.  These risks were taken due to greed and the desire to make more money.  The bad mortgages that were sold had a detrimental effect as homeowners could no longer afford their mortgages as the price of housing went down during the period of 2008, also known as the mortgage crisis.  Many homeowners lost their homes as they could no longer pay off their mortgages.  Not only did this affect shareholders and homeowners, it also affected the American economy.  A home is a staple in a stable economy as a home comes along with family, the purchase of appliances, vehicles etc.  The loss of a home means the loss of buying power affecting much more than homeowners but instead businesses, banks, government and other consumers.  JPMorgan is being criminally investigated for the “wrongdoing associated with the bank’s mortgage practices” and are being investigated in mortgage practices as well as mortgage-bond investors to make sure that the bank did not go around investment policies instilled by the board of investors as if they did, they would be criminally negligent for those investing practices.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-19/jpmorgan-said-to-have-reached-13-billion-u-s-accord.html