Hopewell Fraud Lawyer
In Virginia, there are a host of crimes considered fraud, also known as crimes of dishonesty. If you have been charged with fraud in Virginia, it may be wise to hire a Hopewell fraud lawyer to ensure you are properly defended. A conviction may have severe results including possible jail time. A skilled criminal defense attorney could help you get the best result for your case by building a strong defense as soon as charges are leveled against you.
Types of Fraud
Fraud is an ambiguous term that could refer to a wide array of crimes. In Virginia, the most common areas of fraud include:
- Forgery
- Identity Theft
- Check/Credit Card Fraud
Forgery
Generally, forgery is considered one of the more serious forms of fraud. Any individual who forges a coin or monetary bill, has committed a Class 5 felony.
False pretenses involve an individual intentionally misrepresenting to obtain money, title to property, or other valuables. An individual may use false pretense to obtain a signature which in turn could be use for forgery or another fraud-related crime which is a Class 4 felony.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is another term, like fraud, that is commonly used but has a very specific legal meaning. Identity theft occurs when a perpetrator has taken another person’s legal identify information such as their name, date of birth, or social security number for a criminal purpose. The criminal purpose could be for the perpetrators own use, to sell to a third party, or to interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation among other things.
Check/Credit Card Fraud
Check fraud occurs when an individual writes a check that they know will bounce due to insufficient funds or bad credit. The law treats such an act as equivalent to larceny, a theft charge. The amount of money at issue determines the seriousness of the crime and the corresponding severity of punishment. These charges range from a class 6 felony if more than $200 was at stake, or it could be a class 1 misdemeanor if $200 was involved. Credit card fraud occurs when a person uses a credit card fraudulently, including using another credit card number or using a credit card one knows has expired or is otherwise unusable.
Consequences of a Fraud Conviction
Virginia classifies crimes into either felonies or misdemeanors, which are further divided into classes. For a class 1 misdemeanor such as check fraud, the punishment can include up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. For a class 5 felony, such as forging coin or paper money, the punishment ranges between one to five years in prison in addition to fines.
Hire a Hopewell Fraud Lawyer Today
Your freedom could be on the line if you have been charged with fraud. Consult a Hopewell fraud lawyer to ensure that you mount the best defense possible. A local attorney could be your advocate, with years of experience handling similar cases. Legal counsel could be with you during each phase of your case from negotiating a plea deal with the prosecutors, to cross-examining witness at your trial. Call right away to get the help that you need.