Tampa Wire Fraud Attorney
Classified as a felony offense, wire fraud is one of the most serious crimes federal prosecutors file against individuals. Wire fraud occurs when a person voluntarily and knowingly devises or participates in a scheme with the intent of defrauding someone else of property, usually monetary funds. As its name suggests, wire fraud involves the use of wire transmissions, such as television, telephone, or radio communications. There are many different types of offenses that involve the use of these devices and so, the federal government pursues wire fraud charges aggressively.
If you have been charged, there is a lot on the line, as the penalties for wire fraud are harsh. A Tampa wire fraud attorney can defend against your charges and protect your freedom.
Elements of Wire Fraud
When the federal government pursues wire fraud charges, they must prove certain elements of their case. These facts must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a very high standard. The federal prosecutor must show the following four elements:
- The defendant intentionally devised a scheme, or participated in one, to defraud another person of monetary funds or other property,
- The defendant used misrepresentations or false promises or pretenses,
- The misrepresentations or false promises or pretenses must have involved a material, or significant facts, and
- The defendant used a wire transmission in the commission of the offense.
When defending your case, a wire fraud lawyer will challenge the arguments and claims of the prosecution to prevent them from proving the above elements of a case. Due to the fact that federal prosecutors are so eager to secure a conviction, it is important to work with an attorney who has experience in the federal court and federal justice system.
Penalties for Wire Fraud
There are many different penalties for wire fraud and the consequences you face will depend on the category your charges fall into. Federal law outlines many different categories of wire fraud and they include:
- General wire fraud that involves any type of theft using wire transmissions, wire transmissions that involve multiple states, or that uses foreign commerce, but the case does not have any aggravating factors,
- As outlined in Section 102 of the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, any fraud that is connected to an emergency,
- Fraud that targets a financial institution specifically, and
- Fraud that involves illegal telemarketing, especially when the victims are 65 years old or older.
Wire fraud is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. High fines are also part of sentences associated with wire fraud. When a case involves an aggravating factor, such as when the scheme targeted a financial institution, the penalties increase to a maximum of 30 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1 million.
Call Our Wire Fraud Lawyer for Help with Your Case
If you are facing charges, it is critical that you speak to our Tampa wire fraud attorney at OA Law Firm as soon as possible. Time is not on your side but we will start preparing a strong defense for your case so your freedom is protected. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
