Manassas Fraud Lawyer

Fraud can include many different crimes. However, the common factor among fraud cases is the use of deception to get something of value from someone else. If you have been charged with fraud in Virginia, a Manassas fraud lawyer can fight to have your charges reduced or dismissed. Call today to speak with a defense lawyer in Manassas.

Reasons to Hire a Manassas Fraud Lawyer

Because most types of fraud require the prosecution to demonstrate that an individual intentionally carried out the acts that constitute the offense, there is often room for interpretation. When you hire an experienced Manassas fraud lawyer, he or she can work to demonstrate that you did not act with fraudulent intent.

Especially in an age where money can be transferred between parties electronically and without consent, it is valuable to hire an attorney who has experience sorting out the circumstances that may have escalated into a fraud charge.  The lawyers at our firm understand what it takes to mount an effective fraud defense, and they are dedicated to giving clients the best possible chance at penalty reduction or dismissal.

Call our friendly legal team today to complete your free initial consultation and learn more about how a Manassas fraud lawyer from our firm can serve your needs.

Types of Fraud

Forgery and Passing Bad Checks

Under Virginia Code Section 18.2-170, forging a coin, bill, or note or attempting to use any such forgeries is a class 4 felony with a penalty of 2-10 years imprisonment and a possible $100,000 fine. Additionally, under Virginia Code Section 18.2-171, merely possessing the necessary tools for forgeries will get you the exact same penalty.

Passing a bad check means that you submit a check while knowing you do not have sufficient funds to cover it. Under Virginia Code Section 18.2-181, if the value of the check exceeded $200 dollars, it constitutes a class 6 felony, punishable by 1-5 years imprisonment or, at the discretion of the court or jury, up to 12 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $2,500. Otherwise, it constitutes a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 12 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. A fraud attorney practicing in Manassas could help you by establishing that you were unaware you did not have sufficient funds to cover your check.

Credit Card Fraud

Under Virginia Code Section 18.2-195, credit card fraud happens when, with intent to defraud and for the purpose of obtaining money, goods, or services, the accused:

• Uses a stolen, expired, or revoked card
• Uses another’s card without consent or an unissued card
• Gets control of anyone’s card as collateral for debt
• Uses card to get money they know is beyond the available credit

Additionally, a merchant who accepts credit cards can be guilty of fraud if they:

• Accept a card they know is suspicious
• Lie about giving goods or services in return for a reported transaction
• Charge an amount of money on the card in excess of what the cardholder authorized

If the total value of money, goods, or services obtained by this fraud is $200 or over, it is a class 6 felony (1-5 years in prison; possible 100,000 fine; jury or court can change this to up to 1 year and/or up to $2,500). Otherwise, it is a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to 12 months in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.

Identity Theft

Identity theft happens whenever an individual takes the personal identifying information of another person and uses it illegally for financial gain. There are a number of common crimes involving identity theft including everything from forgery, to credit card theft and fraud, to embezzlement, uttering, and larcenies of all kinds.

The most immediate consequences of identity theft conviction can be active or suspended jail or prison time, fines that are active or suspended as well as probation which can be lengthy. Long-term consequences include the loss of employment as well as the difficulty in finding employment in the future because of a permanent criminal record.

An individual should consider taking a plea deal in an identity theft case or really in any case when the government has made an offer which, in the defense attorney’s opinion, is more favorable than the likely outcome of a trial.

Essential information to provide the lawyer is going to include what exactly you have been charged with, the identities of any victims, the identities of police officers and investigators as well as things like first court dates and previous interactions with the police. In addition, it is going to be important for the accused to write down any recollection that they have of what has occurred, as well as keep track of and bring to their attorney any documents or other forms of data which may help you with their case.

Other Types of Fraud

You could also need a Manassas fraud attorney if you are accused of:

• Embezzlement
• Check Fraud
• Money laundering
• Forging public records
• Falsifying transcripts or diplomas

Penalties

The most common penalties associated with fraud cases are active or suspended jail time, fines which can be active or suspended, as well as periods of probation.

The likelihood of whether a person will be able to get a plea deal when charged with fraud is a function of a number of important things.  The most important factor is whether the attorney is able to discover and bring to bear defenses which will give the prosecution concern that they may not be able to prove their case.  This is by far the most important factor in getting a good plea deal. In addition to that, prosecutors can be persuaded by attorneys helping clients to mitigate the charges by doing any number of things.  This can include community service or making restitution or taking other steps which show that you are rehabilitating yourself or making amends for what you’ve done.

No one type of fraud case is more likely to lead to a plea deal than any other. All fraud cases potentially involve victims who may be out some money and because of that, prosecutors are always keen to want to make sure that the victims are made whole and that there is some penalty for the crime. Therefore, all fraud cases are treated fairly equally.

How a Manassas Fraud Lawyer Can Help

Fraud cases can range from a misdemeanor charge for passing bad checks up to a felony charge for forgery. Whatever the severity of the charges you are facing, stress and disruption will enter your life. An experienced Manassas fraud lawyer can apply their knowledge to help you deal with this situation as quickly and painlessly as possible, and can even help you appeal the ruling of your case. Call today for a free consultation.