Fraud is a serious criminal charge that involves intentionally taking money, property, or services through unfair means. Texas fraud convictions carry serious penalties, including jail time, probation, and a potentially career-ending criminal record. Businesses, executives, and individual employees can face criminal fraud charges in state and federal courts. If you are facing a criminal fraud charge, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who will build an effective, vigorous defense on your behalf.
Charged With Fraud? Our Experienced Lawyers Can Help
At the Law Offices of Steven Jumes, our experienced criminal defense lawyers are certified in criminal law and rank among the top attorneys in Texas. We have the resources and experience to provide sophisticated legal advice tailored to achieving the best outcome possible in your case. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation to learn more about how we can defend you against fraud charges.
Types of Fraud Charges in Texas
There are several different types of specific fraud charges under federal and Texas law. At the Law Offices of Steven Jumes, our criminal defense lawyers have experience representing clients in various types of fraud charges at the federal and state level, including:
- Securities fraud, including insider trading
- Tax fraud
- Bank fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Wire fraud
- Identity fraud
- Mail fraud
- Bribery
- Extortion
- Forgery
- Money laundering
- Credit card
- Insurance fraud
- Health care fraud, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud
Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Criminal Defense Lawyer
Texas authorities closely monitor any irregularities that could be signs of Medicare or Medicaid fraud. Medicaid fraud costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year. When business owners are accused of Medicare or Medicaid fraud, it is wise for their employees to contact a criminal defense attorney if they are implicated in any type of wrongdoing. Every year, authorities arrest and charge hundreds of healthcare providers and staff members with Medicare or Medicaid fraud. Medicaid and Medicare fraud occur when someone steals money from the federal government’s Medicaid or Medicare program by doing the following:
- Charging Medicaid or Medicare for treatment that the provider never provided for the patient
- Charging Medicare or Medicaid for medical supplies or devices that were never provided to the patient
- Offering a drug plan not approved by Medicare or Medicaid
- Falsely using a Medicaid or Medicare card for treatment
Insurance Fraud Criminal Defense Lawyer
Insurance fraud is one of the most commonly charged types of white-collar crimes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to Texas law, insurance fraud involves committing actions in support of a claim for payment under an insurance policy with the intent to deceive or defraud insurance. Suppose someone was involved in a car accident and was not injured but told the insurance company he broke his ankle. The car accident victim would be committing insurance fraud. Insurance fraud charges can arise from various situations, including the following:
- Fire damage claims
- Life insurance claims
- Property damage claims
- Health care or medical claims
- Workers compensation claims
- Car accidents or other auto collisions
The majority of medical fraud indictments involve multiple people. Typically, Texas Medicare fraud cases involve a healthcare provider who did not provide care to a patient and then billed Medicare. In these scenarios, the indictment will cover the business owner and the medical treatment providers. Doctors and nurses who were in on the scheme are often indicted.
Those convicted of Medicare fraud face serious penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and other civil penalties. Being convicted of Medicare fraud can also lead to the loss of professional medical licenses and exclusions from federal healthcare programs, negatively impacting a doctor’s career.
Defenses Against Fraud Charges
Fraud is a serious crime in Texas that carries harsh penalties. Unfortunately, innocent people can be charged with fraud. Misunderstandings and mistakes can lead to fraud charges. If you have been accused of fraud, remember you are innocent until proven guilty. One of the best things you can do is consult with a skilled criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Each case is different, but there are some common defenses to fraud charges, including mistaken identity. With the rise of online banking, social media, and e-commerce, fraud that occurs over the internet is common, and a hasty investigation led the police to you mistakenly. Your attorney can help you prove that you have an alibi for the crime that allegedly took place.
You can also prove that you had a lack of intent to commit fraud. Prosecutors must provide the court with evidence that you willfully defraud a business or person to obtain property, money, or services. If you did not intend to defraud anyone, the prosecution would not be able to prove all of the elements of fraud. Finally, many accusations of fraud occur because of misunderstandings and mistakes. Another person may assume that you were trying to take advantage of them, but you simply lacked information or were mistaken at the time.
Identity Fraud and Identity Theft
Identity fraud involves using someone else’s debit card, credit card, or online store account information to purchase a product or withdraw cash without the owner’s permission. This criminal charge involves taking advantage of another person’s identification for personal gain in a concrete set of circumstances. Most identity fraud charges involve unauthorized purchase transactions.
Identity theft is a different crime that occurs when someone takes personal information from someone else and uses it to pretend to be them for personal or financial gain. For example, identity theft includes opening a new credit card in someone else’s name without their permission or submitting a loan application.
Contact a Fort Worth Fraud Lawyer Today
Are you being investigated for fraud in Texas, or have you already been charged with fraud? If so, do not delay speaking to an experienced criminal defense lawyer. At the Law Offices of Steven Jumes, we provide potential clients a free initial consultation. We will review your case and answer any questions you have, allowing you to learn more about our effective criminal defense strategies. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
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