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Flint Fraud Lawyer

Fraud is a serious criminal charge. If convicted, you will face fines, possible jail time, and irreparable damage to your reputation. Fortunately, if you act fast and retain the services of a skilled Flint fraud lawyer, you may be able to avoid all or some of the penalties that might stem from a conviction.

Call Drias Law Group today at (810) 644-5660 or contact us online and a knowledgeable Flint criminal defense attorney can start building your defense right away.

What is Fraud?

There are many different kinds of fraud, but in general, the offense requires the following to be true:

  • You misrepresented an important fact through a positive act or an omission
  • You made the misrepresentation with the intent to deceive
  • Someone believed your misrepresentation and relied on it
  • That person suffered damages as a result

Many people think that as long as they don’t tell a lie, they can’t be charged with fraud. But as mentioned above, an omission can form the basis for an accusation of fraud. For example, if you fail to list all of your medical conditions when applying for health insurance, that omission might constitute the basis of fraud.

What Kinds of Fraud Cases Does Drias Law Group Handle?

It’s important to note that there are two types of fraud cases: civil and criminal. A civil fraud case arises when a person or a business sues you to recover money they allege that you obtained from them in a fraudulent manner. A criminal fraud case occurs when a state or federal prosecutor has evidence that suggests that you committed a fraud prohibited by statute, and he or she files charges against you. You might face both civil and criminal litigation over one alleged instance of fraud, and the outcome of one case might affect the other.

At Drias Law Group, we have built our reputation as a criminal defense firm that handles criminal fraud cases, including but not limited to:

  • Obtaining a signature through fraud (MPC 750.273 – 274) – Fraudulently obtaining someone’s signature on a document or a contract is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $5,000 in fines. Likewise, it is also illegal to use a promissory note or a contract containing a signature that you know to be false.
  • Food stamp fraud (MPC 750.300) – If you knowingly use, transfer, acquire, alter, or purchase food stamps in an illegal or fraudulent manner, you may face either misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the amount you allegedly took from the Food Assistance Program. You may also be barred from receiving food assistance in the future.
  • Check fraud (MPC 750.131) – It’s illegal to make out a check to someone when you know that you don’t have sufficient funds in your account to honor the check. Depending on the amount of money at stake in the case, the number of prior convictions you have, and whether there is evidence of your intent to commit fraud, this offense may be treated as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
  • Mortgage fraud (MPC 750.219d) – If you knowingly make a false statement or omission during the mortgage lending process, use fake documents, or assist someone in doing so, you may face up to 15 years in prison and/or fines of up to $100,000.

How a Flint Fraud Lawyer Can Help

In any criminal case, your conviction will depend on whether the prosecutor has enough evidence to show beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty. This is a difficult burden to meet. This is why prosecutors often try to get the accused to admit to the crime before the trial starts. Do not accept a plea offer from the prosecutor before speaking with an experienced Flint criminal defense lawyer, as there may be several ways for you to fight – and defeat – your charges.

As a former prosecutor, attorney Martin Drias knows how the prosecution will try to frame the evidence against you. They may even try to use illegal evidence, such as a confession obtained in violation of your rights, or the results of a search performed without a warrant. In such cases, your lawyer can ask the court to remove this evidence from the case. With crucial evidence suppressed from the case, it will be easier to defend your case at trial. It may even be possible to obtain the dismissal of your charges before the trial begins.

Every criminal case is different, so you should speak to a Flint fraud attorney if you want to know what defense strategies might be available in your case. At Drias Law Group, our goal is to maximize your chances of obtaining a good case outcome by forcefully advocating for your rights at every stage of the criminal justice process. To find out more, call us today at 810-644-5660 for a free and confidential case consultation.