Wire Fraud
Wire Fraud Attorney
Wire Fraud Crimes
Wire fraud refers to a fraudulent scheme to secure financial resources that takes places over interstate “wires” (including wire transfers, FAX transmissions, electronic mail [email], radio, telephone, radio, television and computer modems). The US Attorney’s Office seeks to indict any party it believes to have used interstate wires to further an attempt to fraud, whether or not the fraudulent activity actually occured or not.
Wire fraud is almost always prosecuted on the federal level, as the US government has jurisdiction over any crime that is committed across state lines. The Federal Government commits nearly limitless resources to the prosecution of white collar crimes; if you are facing a wire fraud investigation or allegation, Contact the wire fraud attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.
Penalties for Wire Fraud
The penalties for wire fraud depend on the nature of the victim. If the victim is an individual or general business entity, the defendant could face a substantial fine and up to 20 years in prison if he or she is convicted. However, the penalties become more severe if the victim is deemed to be a financial institution.
If that’s the case, the convicted defendant could face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00. Another aspect of these punishments to consider is that when someone is sentenced by a federal judge, that judge is somewhat limited in his or her sentencing discretion by federal sentencing guidelines, and the convicted defendant will most likely serve nearly all of the sentence handed down, as federal inmates do not generally become eligible for early release.
The punishment for wire fraud is more severe for those who commit it against a financial institution because of basic public policy concerns. The government wants American citizens to feel safe and reassured that their deposits, retirement accounts and other assets are strongly protected, not only against the occurrence of wire fraud but also against any sort of cavalier attitude in regards to being caught and convicted. The legislature wanted to do everything possible to provide a strong deterrent against wire fraud, and this is how it’s generally done.
We Can Help
If you or someone you know is faces allegations of wire fraud, Contact The Blanch Law Firm today for a free and confidential consultation with a wire fraud attorney to discuss how we can help you mount the best possible defense.