Chesterfield County Fraud Lawyer
Fraud may occur when individuals use deceptive tactics against another person or entity for personal benefit or gain. There are several varieties of fraud offenses, many of which could have serious penalties.
A Chesterfield County fraud lawyer might be able to assist you with any type of fraud charges that you may be facing. Fraud offenses may be either a misdemeanor or felony offenses, depending on the circumstances surrounding the fraud and the value of the gain to individuals who allegedly committed a fraud offense.
While some types of fraud, such as writing bad checks for small amounts of money, may be relatively minor, other types of fraud offenses could have very harsh consequences if you are convicted. You may wish to consult with a proactive criminal attorney prior to attempting to resolve fraud charges on your own.
Typical Types of Fraud
Virginia law identifies several different types of fraud categories just as it may for theft or other crimes. These classifications for fraud offenses may include bribery, bad checks, forgery, false representations to obtain property or credit, credit cards, fraud offenses involving electronic devices, and various other miscellaneous fraud-related offenses.
Some of these fraud offenses are misdemeanors and others are felonies, so the penalties for a fraud conviction may vary, depending on the nature of the offense, the level of the charge, and the value of the benefit derived from the fraudulent act.
It is not uncommon to face multiple fraud charges involving related offenses, or multiple counts of the same offense arising out of the same transaction. This might further compound the potential penalties for a conviction on a fraud offense.
Misdemeanor Fraud Offenses a Person May Face
Fraud offenses range from Class 4 misdemeanors, which are the least severe, to Class 1 misdemeanors, which are the most severe. Some examples of misdemeanor fraud offenses may include:
- Writing a bad check for less than $500 (Class 1 misdemeanor)
- Possessing a fake ID (Class 2 misdemeanor)
- Making a false statement for a marriage record (Class 4 misdemeanor)
- Completing a fraudulent credit card application (Class 1 misdemeanor)
Misdemeanors under Virginia Code § 18.2-11 may be punishable by less than one year in jail and relatively low fines, but multiple counts or charges can result in substantially harsher penalties.
Some offenses that typically are misdemeanor charges may become felony charges when certain aggravating factors exist. Whenever individuals are facing fraud-related charges, they may wish to consider the benefits of contacting a fraud lawyer in Chesterfield County.
Examples of Felony Fraud Crimes
There are many more serious fraud offenses that constitute felonies under Virginia law. Credit card forgery pursuant to Virginia Code § 18.2-193 is a Class 4 felony. Criminally receiving goods or services that were fraudulently obtained under Virginia Code § 18.2-197 is a Class 6 felony if the goods or services are valued at more than $500 over a six-month period.
Class 6 felonies are the least serious felonies, and Class 1 felonies are the most serious felonies. There are no fraud offenses that are Class 1, 2, or 3 felony charges, which does limit the maximum prison terms for fraud offenses to ten years, as per Virginia Code § 18.2-10.
Working with a Chesterfield County Fraud Attorney
Fraud is a serious offense that may have severe penalties and repercussions, even beyond terms of incarceration and high fines. You could encounter difficulties in getting a job after a fraud conviction and you may even be shut out of some professions altogether since a fraud offense inherently involves deception and dishonesty.
If you are facing any type of fraud charges, a Chesterfield County fraud lawyer may be able to give you important information and advice that will be helpful to you.
State fraud charges may easily turn into federal charges, so you could benefit exploring all of the possibilities that you may be facing when charged with a fraud offense. You could get a clear sense of what options are available to you by getting legal counsel and representation.
