Melbourne Fraud Crime Defense Lawyer

Common Fraud Crimes

Whether a fraud case is prosecuted in state or federal court, the prosecution must prove certain key elements pertaining to the actions. Fraud crimes can be misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the type of crime and circumstances. While a misdemeanor is less serious, the goal should be to avoid any criminal record.

Some of the most common fraud charges include:

• Obtaining property by false personation
• Making false statements to obtain property or credit
• Making false reports by officers of banks
• False report of commission of a crime
• Misleading and false advertisements
• Criminal use of personal identification
• Insurance fraud
• Tax fraud
• Public Assistance
• Sale of used items as new

The prosecution must prove that the individual had knowledge that their statement was not true, the false statement was of material fact, and another person suffered injury as a result. In addition, the defendant’s intention must have been to dupe the victim.

At Funk, Szachacz & Diamond, our Melbourne fraud crimes lawyers have represented many clients in fraud cases, including some high profile cases. Call today for the defense you need: (321) 360-4446!

Fraud Penalties

The penalties for conviction on fraud crimes widely vary depending on the type of fraud and whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor. Some of the possible consequences include large fines, repayment of money gained through fraudulent activity, and jail or prison sentences.

In some situations, the consequences can be far-reaching and affect your future employment prospects. For example, an individual may lose a professional license or be prohibited from employment in certain professions after a fraud conviction.

Public Assistance Fraud Penalties in Florida

Public assistance fraud refers to reporting false information to the government in order to receive certain benefits. Examples of this crime include reporting a lower income or claiming more dependents than one actually has in order to gain tax benefits or government aid. This crime often takes the form of "welfare fraud."

• If $200 or less was received fraudulently within a 12-month period, the crime is charged as a misdemeanor and can carry a penalty of up to 1 year in jail or probation and a $1,000 fine.
• If more than $200, but less than $20,000, was received fraudulently, the crime becomes a felony and is punishable by a maximum of 5 years in jail and a $10,000 maximum fine.
• The penalties increase as the amount of money involved increases. For example, if more than $100,000 was received fraudulently, a convicted person might face up to 30 years in prison.