Fraud Defense Attorney in New Jersey
Fraud is a broad category of crime that occurs when a person uses deception to make personal gains that ultimately harm another party. Fraud can be as simple as writing a bad check and as complicated as orchestrating an elaborate banking scheme. Unfortunately, whether the fraud was intentional or not, a conviction can result in devastating consequences.
At The Law Office of Jason A. Volet, our New Jersey fraud defense lawyer has spent his career working on both sides of these types of cases. Jason Volet started as a criminal prosecutor in Monmouth County, where he gained an insider’s perspective on how fraud crimes are prosecuted.
During that time, he noticed how many defendants could have benefited from strong representation, so he decided to make a career change and fight for the rights of the accused instead.
We Have Some of the Best Fraud Defense Lawyers in New Jersey
Now, having argued more than 2,000 cases in his career, Jason employs his knowledge of how the prosecution thinks to craft aggressive defense strategies for his clients. No matter what type of fraud charge you are facing, you need an experienced New Jersey fraud attorney on your side to protect your rights and ensure your side of the story is heard.
Don’t give the prosecution any additional opportunities to build a case against you. Contact our fraud defense attorneys today to schedule a free and confidential case consultation, and learn how our team will fight to help you maintain your innocence.
What Is Fraud in New Jersey?
The burden is on the prosecution to prove that a person is guilty of fraud. In order to prove fraud in New Jersey, the prosecution generally must show the following five elements:
- There was an initial misrepresentation of some fact.
- The person committing the fraud knew about the misrepresentation of fact.
- The misrepresentation was meant to deceive.
- The defrauded individual believed the misrepresentation.
- There were harmful results of the fraud.
Our skilled New Jersey fraud defense attorney will work meticulously to dispute every aspect of the prosecution’s case and protect your rights throughout this stressful time.
What Are the Common Types of Fraud in New Jersey?
There are many specific types of fraud that can be prosecuted at both the state and federal level, meaning penalties can be extremely severe if a person is convicted. Some of the common types of fraud cases our New Jersey criminal defense firm handles are:
- Mail Fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341)
- Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343)
- Bad Checks, Money Orders, Electronic Funds Transfers (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5)
- Credit Card Fraud (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-6)
- Health Care Claims Fraud (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4.3)
- Bank Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344)
- Identity Theft (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17a)
- Internet Fraud
- Insurance Fraud (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4.6)
- Forgery (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1)
- Falsifying or Tampering with Records (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4)
- Motor Vehicle Fraud
- Mortgage Fraud
- Tax Fraud
- Consumer Fraud
- Securities Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1348)
These types of charges can be extremely complicated, particularly if you are facing prosecution at both the federal and state level. Our dedicated New Jersey fraud defense lawyer will thoroughly review all the aspects of your case and be prepared to defend your rights every step of the way. Call or fill out our online form now to schedule a free case consultation.
What Are Potential Penalties of Fraud Charges in New Jersey?
Depending on the charges you are facing, the penalties for fraud can vary widely. If you are convicted, you could face:
- Prison or Jail Time. Although fraud is not a violent crime, incarceration is a real possibility. Depending on what types of charges and how many counts you are facing, a conviction could result in a lengthy prison sentence.
- House Arrest. Home confinement may be considered as an alternative to incarceration. A person sentenced to house arrest for fraud would wear an electronic monitor and would be extremely limited on movement outside the home.
- If a person is sentenced to probation on fraud charges, he or she will have to abide by certain conditions, such as reporting to a probation officer, submitting to searches by the officer, and completing drug or alcohol testing.
- A person convicted on fraud charges may be ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines in addition to serving time in jail or prison.
- A person convicted of fraud can be ordered to pay restitution to victims in order to make up for the amount that was taken. Restitution may be ordered in addition to fines.
Unfortunately, the punishment for a fraud conviction does not necessarily end when a sentence has been completed. People convicted of fraud can have a difficult time finding work or gaining the trust of others for years to come, as their conviction follows them around like a ball and chain.
Our knowledgeable New Jersey fraud attorney will fight aggressively every step of the way to get the charges against you downgraded or dropped. Our skilled legal team also has extensive experience pushing for lenient sentences for clients who may not be able to avoid charges altogether but have a strong case for minimum penalties.
How Are Different Types of Fraud Defined?
Mail Fraud
Mail fraud in the state of New Jersey can be generally defined as any effort or attempt to illegally or deceitfully obtain money or other items by using the United States Postal Service. Mail fraud is one of many types of fraud, but it is a very common kind and can be punished harshly. Even if a person only uses the mail system minimally, any transaction that goes through postal mail can be prosecuted as a case of mail fraud. Fraud of any kind is often handled harshly, but mail fraud can carry even more severe penalties for those who are convicted since the U.S. Postal Service is a federal organization. Some of the possible penalties for a mail fraud conviction include:
- Maximum fine up to $1 million.
- Maximum prison sentence up to 30 years
An individual or even a large corporation can be affected by mail fraud, and the amount of money involved can lead to different penalties for defendants. If a larger amount of money is at stake, the punishment is generally higher. If you or someone you know is being charged with mail fraud in Monmouth County, you need an aggressive defense plan. Contact our fraud defense attorney at The Law Office of Jason A. Volet to discuss how we can help you defend your case.
Bank Fraud
Bank fraud is considered a “white collar” crime because it often involves large businesses and lots of money. It often involves obtaining loans and other funding from lenders that is never intended to be repaid. If you are falsely accused of bank fraud in Freehold or Neptune, you have the legal right to protect yourself from harsh penalties. New Jersey penalizes white-collar crimes relatively harshly, so it is important to avoid these consequences if you are innocent. Thousands of people commit bank fraud every year in the United States, costing lenders hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars. Because of this, states like New Jersey enforce strict penalties on perpetrators. If you are convicted of bank fraud, you could face:
- Ruined credit
- Hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines
- Jail/prison time
Specific penalties are determined on a case-by-case basis, but because so much money is often involved in bank fraud cases, fines and prison time tend to reflect the severity of the damage caused by the fraud. You have the right to defend yourself against false accusations. If you or someone you know has been charged with bank fraud, contact the experienced New Jersey fraud attorneys of The Law Office of Jason A. Volet today.
Check & Credit Card Fraud
Fraud involves the use of deceptive methods to illegally obtain money, goods, or some other desirable outcome. Frequently, this involves the abuse of one’s professional position. Check and credit card fraud are particularly prevalent, and a credit card fraud charge has special things to consider. Because of the threat that these actions are perceived to pose to the integrity of the financial system and commerce, these crimes may be prosecuted as felonies or misdemeanors, and the consequences of a conviction may include significant fines and prison sentences. You may be wondering what constitutes specific cases of fraud for credit cards and checks. A person can be charged with fraud if he or she:
- Signs the back of another’s credit card
- Uses another’s credit card
- Sells or purchases another’s credit card
- Retain possession of a lost credit card
- Writes a “hot” check
- Attempts to float checks.
All of these crimes can be very serious, but specific penalties depend upon a variety of factors, including the amount of the loss resulting from the fraud. The possible consequences of a conviction are too severe to allow you to wait to consult with a New Jersey criminal defense lawyer when you have been accused of any form of financial fraud.
Healthcare Fraud
Being charged with healthcare fraud can be overwhelming, since “white collar” crimes like fraud generally come with stiff penalties. Almost anyone can be accused of healthcare fraud, from individuals to physicians to healthcare facilities. If you are accused of healthcare fraud in Freehold or Neptune, you could be facing harsh penalties, so it’s important to have the legal assistance of an experienced attorney at your side. Healthcare fraud can take many forms and can be committed by both individuals and practices. Some of the most common forms of healthcare fraud include:
- Inflating medical bills for clients.
- Inflating bills when filing for insurance/Medicare.
- Misrepresentation of individual needs to facilitate sale of illegal drugs.
- Misrepresentation of company needs to facilitate sale of illegal drugs.
All of these actions could constitute healthcare fraud and may come with harsh legal consequences. If you are accused of healthcare fraud in Freehold or Neptune New Jersey, you could be facing large monetary fines and prison time. It is important to take action against unlawful accusations of healthcare fraud.
If you or someone you know has been falsely accused of healthcare fraud, contact The Law Office of Jason A. Volet today. Our attorneys have been defending white-collar crimes for years and are committed to helping our clients fight against false convictions.
Internet Fraud
In the state of New Jersey, internet crimes are handled very seriously by the legal system. Internet fraud generally consists of using online networking and devices in order to illegally obtain funds or assets from another individual or company. As a specific type of fraud, internet fraud can be punishable by large monetary fines and prison time. New Jersey has established specialized entities for the purpose of pursuing internet fraud cases. The Cyber-Crimes Unit (CCU) targets individuals who are suspected of illegally obtaining funds by:
- Falsifying information
- Misrepresentation
- Hacking into a network or organization
- Identity theft
- Phishing
- Debit or Credit Card Theft
- Online solicitation of a minor/Internet sex crimes
- Child pornography
All of these crimes can carry stiff penalties. In the cases of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor, a conviction for can mean having to register as a sex offender in addition to potential jail time. It is essential to thoroughly investigate all potential factual and legal defenses, police procedures during the investigation, and any possibility your constitutional rights have been violated.
Each person who is accused of having committed internet fraud is constitutionally guaranteed the right to a competent defense. At The Law Office of Jason A. Volet, our New Jersey internet fraud defense attorneys are passionately committed to ensuring that the rights of their clients are vigorously protected. If you or someone you know is facing prosecution for internet fraud in Monmouth County, contact us today.
Wire Fraud
Wire fraud can be defined as using electronic communication devices like telephones to deceive a person or business in order to illegally obtain money or other valuables. Depending on the amount of money that is involved, a person who is convicted of wire fraud could face very severe penalties in Monmouth County, including decades in prison. Wire fraud can be defined as using electronic communication devices like telephones to deceive a person or business in order to illegally obtain money or other valuables.
Depending on the amount of money that is involved, a person who is convicted of wire fraud could face very severe penalties in Monmouth County, including decades in prison. The aggressive New Jersey white collar crime lawyers of The Law Office of Jason A. Volet are here to help you protect your rights. If you have been accused of wire fraud, contact us today for more information regarding your legal options.
How Can a New Jersey Fraud Lawyer Help You?
Even before you are arrested or charged with a crime, there are many opportunities for a skilled New Jersey fraud defense attorney to stand up for your rights, negotiate reduced charges, or demand that the case be dropped. That’s why it is important to hire an experienced lawyer as soon as you learn that you or a loved one is facing allegations of fraud.
Our dedicated legal team often helps clients by: Making sure you understand your rights before a fraud arrest. Remember, you are presumed innocent, and you should not feel pressured into saying or doing anything that could be used against you. Negotiating bail and standing up for your rights at your first appearance in court.
Our goal is to get you back home with your family as soon as possible after an arrest, so we will push for the minimum incarceration time, including the opportunity to be released on your own recognizance (ROR). Pushing to have the fraud charges reduced or dropped. In about 70 percent of cases, a resolution can be reached without the risk and expense of going to trial.
Our dedicated New Jersey fraud attorney will do everything in our power to minimize or eliminate the charges and the possible sentence. Making a request for pre-trial intervention (PTI). In certain circumstances, we may be able to request that you be placed in a court-supervised program instead of being prosecuted. Aggressively fighting for your rights in court.
If your case does end up going to trial, you can trust that our experienced New Jersey fraud defense attorney has extensive knowledge of how prosecutors operate and how juries think, and our team will develop a smart defense strategy for you. No matter what type of fraud allegations you or a loved one is facing, you need a knowledgeable and dedicated New Jersey fraud lawyer on your side to stand up for your rights.
At The Law Office of Jason A. Volet, our skilled defense team will quickly assess your situation with a free case consultation and identify all of your options for fighting the charges against you. Call or fill out our online contact form to learn how we can help today.
Let Our Experienced New Jersey Fraud Attorney Help You
A large part of building a strong criminal defense is anticipating moves by the prosecution. As a former Monmouth County prosecutor, Freehold criminal defense attorney Jason Volet understands how the other side thinks, and he is skilled at identifying opportunities to negotiate charges and minimize penalties.
At The Law Office of Jason A. Volet, we believe that every client is innocent until proven otherwise, and we know how important it is to have strong legal representation from the very start. After all, your reputation, your future, and your freedom are all on the line.
To schedule a free, confidential case consultation, call or fill out our online form today. Our skilled New Jersey fraud lawyer is dedicated to fighting for the rights of clients in Freehold, Marlboro, Middletown, Wall Township, Manalapan, Howell, Rumson, Red Bank, Ocean Township, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Asbury Park, and throughout Monmouth County.
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