Detroit Fraud Lawyer
Fraud charges can be complicated and overwhelming for the person facing the charge. In Michigan, the penalties for conviction of an offense such as identity theft, credit card theft, or forgery can be severe. A conviction can affect your life for years to come.
Some of the possible consequences you may experience include:
- You may be sentenced to serve time in jail or prison
- You may be ordered to pay expensive criminal fines, court costs, or restitution
- A conviction will result in a permanent criminal record that can be a barrier to employment or being approved for rental housing
- You may lose or have trouble obtaining a professional license, such as to work as a financial professional, lawyer, doctor, teacher, nurse, or pharmacist
- Your immigration status may be affected if you’re a non-U.S. citizen, including the loss of your immigration visa or green card, denial of your citizenship application, or deportation to your native country
In addition to the possibility of criminal penalties, people may look at you differently when you’ve been convicted — or even merely charged — with a fraud offense. Family members or potential employers may be reluctant to trust you because you’ve been charged with an offense involving deception or misrepresentation — and important relationships in your life may be altered, especially if the alleged fraud victim is someone you know.
If you’re being investigated or have been arrested for a fraud offense, your situation may feel hopeless. However, with the help of a good Detroit fraud lawyer, you may have a chance at fighting the charge and preserving your career, your relationships, and your future.
Common Michigan Fraud Charges
Fraud is a broad term that generally involves criminal offenses that rely on deception, misrepresentation, or tricks in order to obtain money or property that you wouldn’t have been able to obtain other than through fraudulent means. Michigan has many statutes defining different kinds of fraud offenses, many of which are serious felony crimes.
Among the most common types of fraud charges seen in Michigan courts are:
- Forgery — Forgery can take a number of forms in Michigan, including forging credit or debit cards, forging checks, or forging documents and signatures to obtain money or property. The penalties for forgery vary based on the nature of the offense, but often are felonies punishable with prison sentences and fines.
- Credit Card Theft — It’s a felony to steal someone else’s credit or debt card, also known in Michigan law as a financial transaction device, or to use a stolen credit or debit card.
- Possession of Another’s Credit Card with Intent to Use — It’s a felony to possess someone else’s credit or debit card with the intent to use it without that person’s consent.
- Possession of a Fake or Altered Credit Card — It’s a felony to knowingly possess a forged or altered credit or debit card. You may be sentenced to prison and costly fines if convicted.
- Insurance Fraud — It’s a felony in Michigan to use false information to obtain an insurance policy or payment of an insurance claim. A conviction may result in years in prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
Skilled Defense For Your Fraud Charge
Fraud charges often rely on interpretations of your state of mind — that you knowingly and intentionally set out to deceive someone or use misrepresentation to your benefit and to someone else’s harm. However, your state of mind is subjective, and evidence that suggests fraud may be misread or misinterpreted by alleged victims, police, or prosecution. At Drias Law Group PLLC, we know that there are two stories — and sometimes more — to every alleged crime, especially a crime such as fraud that may rely on the victim’s perception of what happened.
It’s our goal to make sure that your side of the story is told to police, to prosecutors, to a judge, or to a jury. We’re committed to working zealously on your behalf to show that the version of events put forward by prosecutors may not be the only version — or the correct version. We will advocate on your behalf to get you the best possible outcome in your case, whether that’s a dismissal of your charge, acquittal by a jury, or leniency from a judge.
We’re experienced Detroit fraud lawyers who also have experience working on the prosecution side of criminal cases. That means we have a solid understanding of how prosecutions work and how prosecutors think, and we can put that understanding to work for you by anticipating the arguments the prosecution might use in your case, and attacking their interpretation of events and evidence.
If you or a family member has been charged with fraud, call us for a consultation today.
Charged with fraud? Contact us today.
Your initial consultation will always be free and confidential. Call (313) 944-0236 today or fill out the form below and we will help you.
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