If you or someone you know and love has been charged with a fraudulent act, do not wait to contact an experienced Atlantic County criminal defense attorney. Having an experienced criminal defense attorney at your side is one of the best ways of protecting your rights when you are facing a fraud charge. Being charged with a financial crime is an enormously stressful experience, but you don’t have to go through the court system on your own. Get aggressive legal representation from the knowledgeable and experienced check fraud attorneys at the Law Offices of John J. Zarych. We will protect your rights, guide you through the justice system, and fight to have your charges dropped or reduced. For a free legal consultation, call (609) 616-4956 today.
The Criminal Charges that Fall Under “Fraud” in Hamilton Twp, NJ
Fraud is simply a statement made to another person in order to gain an advantage over that person. Fraud charges are codified under various sections of the New Jersey Criminal Code, and while they may each have their own nuances, they generally share the same common factors. Namely, for the state to move forward and convict a person of fraud they must demonstrate:
- That you misrepresented a material fact
- That you knew or should have known that you were misleading the victim
- That you did so with the intent to defraud the victim
- That the victim reasonably relied on your fraudulent statement,
- That the victim suffered actual damages.
Fraud is a rather large category of criminal activity, and some of the most common examples of fraud charges include:
- Embezzlement – Embezzlement is a common charge wherein a person is accused of taking and converting a company’s or business organization’s legally obtained funds and property for their own purpose or benefit. To be considered an act of embezzlement the prosecution must prove that:
- There was a fiduciary relationship between the victim and the offender
- That the defendant took possession of the property
- That the property was taken illegally, and
- That the misappropriation of the funds or assets was intentional
- Insurance fraud – New Jersey has a special office that handles insurance fraud which is known as the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor. Insurance fraud includes such things as fake car accidents and injuries, overcharging for Medicaid services, claiming disability or unemployment, or even failing to obtain workers compensation benefits for your workers.
- Bankruptcy fraud – Bankruptcy fraud is considered a federal offense wherein a person fails to file a true and complete schedule of their financial assets during a bankruptcy proceeding.
These examples are not meant to be an exhaustive list of the types of fraud charges that a person may incur in the state but are merely meant to demonstrate the various charges that are out there.
Penalties for Fraud Charges inHamilton Twp, NJ
The penalties for a fraud charge can be absolutely devastating, from fines to extensive time in jail, as well as severely affecting your credit. For example, Embezzlement can be charged in New Jersey as either a second, third, or fourth-degree crime depending on the amount of money or property that was stolen. If a defendant embezzled more than $75,000, they may face up to 10 years in prison. If the defendant embezzled between $500.00 and $75,000.00, he may face 3 to 5 years in prison. If the defendant embezzled $200.00 to $500.00, he may face up to 18 months in prison. Taking less than $200 is a disorderly person offense with a possible sentence up to 6 months in jail. The fact that the different charges are separated by the amount of money provides an experienced criminal defense attorney with a point to argue and even dismiss your case. An experienced attorney can refute the value of the property that a defendant allegedly embezzled.
Call our Hamilton Twp, NJ Fraud Defense Attorneys
Representation by an experienced fraud crimes attorney increases your odds of defeating the charges and getting back to your normal life. If you, your spouse, your parent, or your son or daughter was charged with check fraud after writing a bounced check in the Atlantic City area, you need to get legal help as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of John J. Zarych, we handle bad check charges involving casinos and many other types of large and small businesses in Cape May County and Atlantic County. We will protect your rights, investigate your case thoroughly and analyze the possible defense strategies that could be used in court. If you or a loved one was recently placed under arrest, don’t wait to seek help from an experienced defense lawyer in New Jersey. Call our law offices right away at (609) 616-4956 for a free and confidential legal consultation.
