Oakland County Fraud Lawyer

A person facing a fraud charge in Oakland County may not know where to turn next. Not knowing how such a charge will affect one’s life can be a tremendous burden. Since a charge of fraud has such a wide range of potential consequences, it may be beneficial to seek the legal counsel of an Oakland County fraud lawyer to discuss your situation.

A knowledgeable attorney could play a crucial role in working towards the reduction of the penalties of a fraud conviction. They could do so by challenging such a charge and fight for a dismissal.

Section 750.218 of The Michigan Penal Code defines fraud as the use of false pretenses, with the intent to defraud or cheat, to obtain one of the following:

• Interest in land
• A person’s signature on a forged document
• Money, property, or service
• Any item through incorrect measurement

False pretense is a false or fraudulent representation or communication of any kind about one’s intent to perform a future event. In any fraud case, the prosecution must prove that an individual had the intent to defraud. An Oakland County fraud lawyer could help an individual show the prosecution that the situation was accidental.

In Oakland County, the punishment for fraud is dependent on the amount of money involved in the fraud. The higher the amount which was defrauded, the more severe the penalty tends may be.

If the fraud was for less than $200, the maximum penalty is a jail term of 93 days and a fine of $500. If the value of the land, service, or money which was defrauded is valued between $200 and $1000, the maximum penalty rises to one year of imprisonment and a fine of $2000.

A conviction for fraud between $1000 and $20,000 is a felony and is punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000. A fraud charge between $20,000 and $50,000 carries a potential 15-year sentence and a fine of up to $15,000.

The next tier is for fraud is between $50,000 and $100,000 and is punishable by a maximum prison sentence of 15 years a $25,000 fine. The highest penalty for a first-time fraud conviction is for an offense involving over $100,000. Such a charge could result in a 25-year prison sentence and a fine of $35,000.

Furthermore, if multiple counts of fraud take place within a 12-month period and are part of a larger scheme, the court may aggregate the amounts of each individual case of fraud to determine the conviction.

The court has a relatively large amount of discretion when determining the outcome of a fraud case. The penalty range for a fraud involving $1000 is the same for those involving up to $20,000. Since the court can choose to be lenient or strict, it is important to have a fraud attorney representing you at every step of the criminal justice process.

If you are charged with fraud of any kind, you may need to seek the legal counsel of an Oakland County fraud lawyer as quickly as possible. The penalties for a fraud charge, such as large fines, jail time, and a criminal record, can affect one’s employment, housing, and other important opportunities in the future.