Los Angeles Fraud Defense Lawyer
What is Fraud?
A person commits fraud when they lie or misrepresent facts in order to gain something of value, such as money or property. Fraud often involves forging another person’s signature, writing a bad check, or falsifying a legal or financial document. It can occur in many contexts, including real estate or financial transactions, filing taxes, buying or selling stocks, or applying for Medicare or other government benefits.
Fraud is a crime at the federal level and in the State of California. The Law Offices of Adrian M. Baca defends clients against a wide variety of fraud charges. We are well-suited to represent clients in complex or serious federal fraud cases, where the stakes are particularly high. We regularly defend clients against federal fraud charges including:
- Internet fraud
- Credit card fraud
- Welfare fraud
- Federal tax evasion
- Securities fraud
- Bank fraud
- Insider trading
If you are facing federal fraud charges, you need an experienced Los Angeles fraud defense lawyer to represent your interests. Do not try to fight these serious charges alone.
What Are the Penalties for Fraud?
Fraud is punished more harshly than other types of theft because of the level of deceit and planning involved. The penalties for fraud typically include fines, jail time and/or repayment of the money fraudulently received. In some cases, depending on the type of fraud at issue, other penalties may also be imposed. For example, a person convicted of welfare fraud may be prohibited from applying for federal welfare benefits in the future.
Federal sentencing guidelines establish a base penalty for fraud that varies depending on the type of fraud committed. This base penalty may be increased depending on a variety of factors, including:
- The amount of money or value of the property fraudulently obtained;
- The number of victims involved;
- Whether a computer or an unauthorized device was used to commit the fraud; OR
- Whether a weapon was used, among other factors.
Defenses to Fraud Charges
In order to convict you for fraud, the federal government must prove all of the following beyond a reasonable doubt:
- You made a false statement;
- You knew the statement was false;
- You intended to deceive another person;
- The other person relied on your false statement; AND
- The other person suffered losses as a result of your false statement.
An experienced Los Angeles federal fraud defense attorney can prepare a strong defense to help you avoid a conviction. Some available defenses may include:
- You made a false statement but were not aware that it was false.
- You did not intend to deceive the victim.
- You did not intend to deprive the victim of his or her property.
- The victim’s loss was not related to any false statement you made.
Contact The Law Offices of Adrian M. Baca for a Strong Fraud Defense
If you have been accused of fraud – whether it involves $20 or $30 million dollars – you may be facing serious federal charges. The Law Offices of Adrian M. Baca has extensive experience handling federal fraud charges. We know how to counter common arguments in a fraud case, how to avoid sentencing pitfalls and how to negotiate good plea agreements with federal prosecutors, including payment plans that can help keep you out of prison. Contact us by phone or by filling out our contact form, and we can schedule a free consultation to discuss your options.