Wire Fraud Defense Lawyer New Jersey
Financial crimes are serious because they involve someone’s livelihood. Wire fraud crimes are particularly serious because they are actually federal offenses. If you are ever accused of committing wire fraud, you need to speak with a wire fraud defense lawyer New Jersey from Lorraine Gauli-Rufo, Esq. & Associates immediately. Do not try to speak with anyone to prove your innocence. Your lawyer will know how to do this in a tactical way that will be beneficial for your case. Even if you are not guilty of doing this, anything that you do say to another party can be held against you in federal court, so you need to have someone who cares about your outcome and knows the federal laws in the United States to speak on your behalf.
What Constitutes Wire Fraud?
Wire fraud can be anything that is transferred electronically in an attempt to steal or con someone out of an item of value. This fraud could be a one-time thing, or it could be an entire scheme to trick many people or entities into giving up items of value. Wire fraud could literally be wiring money to someone for a purpose that someone was not upfront about, or it could be electronically given in another way. With a rise in people using services like Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle, wire fraud is becoming a much more common criminal activity. Cryptocurrency is also a common way for people to exchange funds. Criminals can find victims on social media or target people that they know. Wire fraud will be anything that takes something of monetary value away from one person and gives it to another under false pretenses.
How Should You Proceed if You Are Accused of Wire Fraud?
You need to contact a lawyer immediately to retain representation. Since wire fraud is a federal offense, you may face federal prison time and extensive fines if you are convicted. Your lawyer will be able to determine if you did anything wrong and move forward from there. If you are guilty of wire fraud, your best bet might be to argue that you did not realize you were doing anything wrong. The person who gave you goods knew what they were doing and were of sound mind as they did it. After all, it is not illegal to give someone a gift. If you are unable to prove this or if there is a great amount of evidence against you, you may need to plead guilty and try to lessen your sentence by cooperating. An experienced wire fraud defense lawyer from Lorraine Gauli-Rufo, Esq. & Associates will be able to be with you every step of the way to come up with the best possible outcome that involves minimal fines and prison time. Contact us today to set up a consultation.
What Are the Penalties for Wire Fraud?
Wire fraud is a serious offense and the penalties are stiff if convicted with this crime. In New Jersey, those convicted of wire fraud may face up to $250,000 in fines, restitution to victims and up to 20 years in prison. If a financial institution was the victim of wire fraud, defendants can face up to 30 years in prison.
Will It Be Difficult to Find Employment After a Wire Fraud Conviction?
If you are found guilty of wire fraud, it can definitely have an effect on your future, including your employment opportunities. Many employers conduct background checks these days and may be reluctant to hire someone who has a wire fraud conviction. This is especially true if the job involves handling money. Employers may be afraid that you might commit the same type of crime again and hire someone with a clean record instead.
What Are Defenses Against Wire Fraud?
Although being charged with wire fraud is a serious matter, all hope is not lost. There are several defenses available against a wire fraud charge, including good faith. This is when you lack an intent to defraud. Evidence for a good faith defense may include a lack of financial motive, refunds to customers or compliance with state laws.
Another common defense for wire fraud is puffing, which involves using flattery or exaggerations to attract customers. Puffery can have some similarities to fraud, so it can be tricky to distinguish the two. For this defense, you may show that you did not intend to deceive someone.
If you allegedly committed wire fraud several years ago, you may be able to use the statute of limitations defense. Generally, the statute of limitations for pursuing wire fraud charges is five years.
Should I Speak to a Federal Prosecutor if Accused of Wire Fraud?
If you are charged with wire fraud, the federal prosecutor may want to speak to you or even offer you a plea deal. Under no circumstances should you agree to talk to the prosecutor without your defense lawyer present. Wire fraud carries severe penalties, and the prosecution doesn’t have your best interest at heart.
How Should I Prepare for a Consultation with a Wire Fraud Defense Lawyer?
During your initial consultation, your wire fraud defense lawyer will want to find out as much information as possible about your case. Therefore, you should be prepared to answer several questions, such as when you were charged with wire fraud, if there were any witnesses and whether or not you have a previous criminal record. If you have documents pertaining to your case, bring them along to your meeting.
