Alexandria Identity Theft Lawyer

In Alexandria, identity theft is classified as the taking of personal or identifying information of someone else for the purposes of financial gain. If someone is facing criminal charges for identity theft, they are up against serious consequences that range from having to pay restitution to jail time.

An experienced fraud lawyer will be able to advise an individual who has attained these charges on what they can do prior to their trial to mitigate the penalties. An Alexandria identity theft lawyer that has handled similar cases may even be able to arrange a plea bargain for their client based on the details of their case, which is why it is so crucial that they are brought in as soon as someone is charged with identity theft.

Identity Theft & Accompanying Offenses

No case is ever the same, but in most situations, an individual is caught and charged with committing identity theft because they decide to use the stolen information in connection with a financial transaction. Someone who steals a social security number or a driver’s license number may attempt to make a transaction, but when the transaction does not go through or one of many other issues that can occur does take place, the true owner of that identifying information is contacted by their bank or credit card company. At that point, the crime is often discovered.

What many don’t realize is that not only is identity theft in Alexandria is discovered pretty quickly but in many cases, an individual that has been charged with identity theft will also be hit with other offenses. These offenses might include:

• Credit card theft
• Credit card fraud
• Theft of a check, or
• Check fraud

Our Alexandria identity theft lawyer is equipped with the knowledge necessary to handle cases that involve multiple charges, and the sooner we are contacted, the sooner we can begin building a strong defense for our client.

Long & Short Term Consequences

A long-term consequence of being convicted of identity theft is that an individual will have that conviction on their criminal record permanently. Having that stain on a criminal record reflects dishonesty, and it makes it quite difficult for him or her to maintain or secure employment in the future. Short-term consequences may include:

• Jail time
• Restitution
• Fines
• Having to deal with the consequences of court proceedings

Accepting A Plea Deal

A person should consider taking a plea deal in an identity theft case when there is a compromise or an offer made by the prosecution that is more favorable than facing the uncertainty of a worse outcome at trial. Under circumstances where the prosecution offers anything meaningful, a plea deal makes sense because a court case always has an uncertain outcome. Sometimes the consequences can be more severe than the individual who was charged anticipated.

With this in mind, it makes sense to cut the person’s losses by entering into a plea agreement. In that way, the person knows the outcome rather than being in a situation where the outcome could be less favorable.

Why Contacting An Alexandria Identity Theft Lawyer Is Important

When someone is charged with identity theft, they are often charged with a felony that has far-reaching and permanent consequences in the person’s life. Even if the charge is not a felony, it is one that is considered a crime of moral turpitude, which means the crime involves lying, cheating, or stealing offense. These offenses produce the most difficult consequences in the lives of the individual that has been charged because they make it very difficult for him or her to maintain their current employment or obtain employment in the future. Due to the deleterious effects that these consequences can have on a persons life, it is crucial that they seek legal guidance.

When someone is charged with identity theft, they should gather all of the papers that they received from the court, the magistrate, or the police and bring them to the initial meeting with their identity theft attorney in Alexandria. This information gives the attorney a clear picture of the person’s charges. It is also wise to bring any evidence that can help an attorney in building their defense as well as the names of any favorable witnesses. These are things a person should have in-hand the first time that they meet with their lawyer.