If you have recently been arrested and accused of fraud, then you can rely on an attorney for strategy, support and representation to stand firm and to not back down easily to the prosecution. They can work to challenge the evidence brought forth against you and understand that sometimes there are innocent miscommunications between two parties, which can lead to one side feeling as though they were the victim of fraud.
Determining Severity of Consequences
The criminal repercussions for fraud can be jail time, probation, parole and/or paying restitution to the victim. An attorney understands that sometimes the accused receives a punishment that is much harsher than necessary. can fight relentlessly to help bring about the verdict you desire. The consequences for such a crime may be determined based on a variety of factors:
- Details surrounding the fraudulent incident
- What amount of money or property that was taken
- If the accused has prior convictions
- If the accused was on probation or parole when it happened
- The company, person or organization that was defrauded
The accused may also suffer punishments if he or she is sued in civil court by the victim. If this is the case, then the accused may have to pay penalties, fines, punitive damages, restitution, and/or suffer a contract cancellation.
Essential Factors of Criminal Fraud
During your trial, there are multiple elements of the supposed fraudulent act that the prosecutor must prove without a doubt. An experienced attorney knows that evidence can play a crucial part in your ultimate verdict. The list of factors that must be proven can include the following:
- There was a misrepresentation of information/facts
- The accused knew the information/facts was false & misleading
- The accused had a real intent to defraud
- The party or person who was defrauded relied on this information as true
- As a result of the deceit, damages or loss of money resulted
Examples of Fraud
There are many kinds of criminal fraudulent offenses. If convicted, the person who is accused of any of the fraud types listed here may receive criminal and/or civil penalties. The examples below may have occurred through the mail, wire, phone, internet or some other form of communication:
- Bankruptcy Fraud
- Identity Theft
- Tax Evasion
- Insurance Fraud
- Credit and/or Debit Card Fraud
- Mail Fraud
- Securities Fraud
- Telemarketing Fraud
- Wire Fraud
Seeking legal representation as soon as possible can make a big difference in your verdict. We highly recommend meeting with a criminal defense attorney Fairfax, VA trusts immediately following your arrest. What you do and how you prepare in the time to come before your trial, can have a substantial impact on your case. Do not wait until the last minute. The more time your attorney has to prepare, the stronger your defense can be. Reach out to us right away for a free starter consultation.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Dave Albo – Attorney for their insight into criminal fraud defense.