Houston Federal Fraud Crime Defense Attorney

Federal Fraud Charges Lawyer in the City of Houston, TX, Protects the Freedom and Reputation of Clients Accused of Defrauding the Federal Government in Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, and Throughout Texas

Have you been charged with violating one or more federal criminal fraud statutes? Conviction for a federal fraud crime can have serious consequences, including prison time, significant fines and other financial costs, and the loss of your reputation. Get the legal representation you need to defend yourself against your charges. Turn to a Houston federal fraud crime defense attorney from Chernoff Law.

I am attorney Ed Chernoff, and I have been practicing criminal law for over 35 years. My legal experience includes having spent five years as one of the top prosecutors in the Harris County DA’s office. In 1991, I decided that I wanted to use the knowledge and insight into the prosecution of criminal cases that I gained to help people accused of breaking the law. Since then, I’ve defended thousands of clients and taken more than 150 cases to jury trial. I’ve gained a national reputation as a tough, smart advocate for my clients, and received a Board Certification in Criminal Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Reach out for a free case evaluation with a federal fraud charges lawyer in the City of Houston, TX, to learn more about your legal options for defending yourself against accusations of criminal fraud. I will fight to ensure you obtain the best possible resolution to your fraud charges. 

What Are Federal Fraud Crimes?

Examples of fraud crimes under federal law include:

• Mail fraud (18 U.S.C. s. 1341) – Use of the postal system to undertake a fraudulent scheme 
• Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. s. 1343) – Use of a communications system, including radio, television, phone service, or the internet, to undertake a fraudulent scheme
• Tax fraud (26 U.S.C. s. 7201) – Any willful attempt to evade a tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code
• Securities fraud (18 U.S.C. s. 1348) – Knowingly engaging in a scheme to defraud in connection with the sales of securities or commodities
• Medicare/Medicaid fraud (18 U.S.C. s. 1347) – Willfully defrauding any healthcare benefit program or fraudulently obtaining money or property under the custody or control of a federal healthcare benefit program
• Bank fraud (18 U.S.C. s. 1344) – Knowingly executing a scheme to defraud a financial institution or to obtain money or property under the custody or control of a financial institution through fraudulent means
• Bankruptcy fraud (18 U.S.C. s. 157) – Filing a fraudulent bankruptcy petition or making a false or fraudulent representation in any document filed with the bankruptcy court

Penalties for a Conviction for a Federal Fraud Crime

Penalties for convictions on federal fraud offenses include:

• Tax fraud/evasion: Up to five years in prison, and a potential fine of up to $100,000 for individuals and $500,000 for businesses
• Bank fraud: Up to 30 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $1 million
• Mail and wire fraud: Up to 20 years in prison
• Securities fraud: Up to 25 years in prison, plus a potential fine based on the amount of money involved in the fraud
• Bankruptcy fraud: Up to five years in prison, potential forfeiture of assets, and dismissal of the bankruptcy petition without opportunity to refile
• Medicare/Medicaid fraud: Up to 20 years in prison, unless the offense results in a person’s death, in which case the maximum possible sentence is life imprisonment

In addition to prison time and fines, federal courts may order defendants convicted of fraud crimes to forfeit any profits they made from the fraudulent scheme or to reimburse victims of the fraud for their financial losses.

Turn to a Houston Federal Fraud Crime Defense Attorney for Help with Advocating for Your Rights in Your Case

You deserve experienced, dedicated legal representation to help you defend your rights and reputation if you have been accused of federal fraud offenses. A conviction can lead to significant financial and personal penalties. I will fight hard to secure the best possible outcome for you in your case by:

• Conducting an independent investigation of your charges to secure all available evidence to build a thorough defense strategy for you
• Making sure you understand the charges filed against you and what you can expect throughout your case
• Bringing in financial experts if necessary to fully understand evidence and documents in your case
• Protecting your constitutional rights by filing motions to exclude evidence that may have been unlawfully obtained from you by investigators
• Working tirelessly to secure the best possible resolution to your charges, if that means either negotiating for a favorable plea agreement or presenting a strong, persuasive case on your behalf if you choose to go to trial

Contact Chernoff Law to Learn More About Your Legal Options for Facing Charges from a Federal Fraud Charges Lawyer in the City of Houston, TX

Contact me today for a confidential consultation to learn more about how a Houston federal fraud crime defense attorney can make a difference in your criminal case. You can rest assured that I will work tirelessly to pursue every avenue in preparing and pursuing your defense. 

Houston Federal Fraud Crime Defense Attorney Answers Frequently Asked Questions about Federal Fraud Crimes in Houston, TX