Orlando Wire Fraud Attorney

What is Wire Fraud?

Wire fraud is a very broad crime consisting of using of any interstate electronic communications in an attempt to defraud someone of property. The electronic communications can include the telephone, the internet, radio, or television, and the fraud can include any intentional misrepresentation designed to fraudulently deprive someone of money, property, or something of value.

To prosecute or convict you of wire fraud, the government does not have to show that you completed the fraudulent transaction, only that you intended to take someone else’s money, property, or something of value under false pretenses. That is, you can be accused and convicted of wire fraud even if you have not received anything from another party, if you

• Intended to fraudulently deprive someone of something of value.
• Acted on a scheme involving a statement, promise, misrepresentation, deception, or another kind of falsehood in order to deprive someone of something of value.
• Used some form of electronic communication to transmit some sound, writing, sign, signal, or picture intended to implement the fraud scheme.

 

Additional Aspects of Wire Fraud Charges

Because wire fraud is a broad crime, prosecutors tend to use it at times when they don’t think they have the evidence necessary to get a conviction for other, usually more serious crimes. For example, if they are investigating you for serious bank or securities fraud but don’t think they have the evidence to convict you, they might also charge you with wire fraud. If the fraud involved any interstate electronic communications, the chances of getting a conviction for wire fraud are much greater than for the underlying crime.

In fact, to convict you for wire fraud, the government does not have to prove the details of the fraud scheme. That is, they do not have to show that whatever was transmitted via electronic communication was in itself fraudulent. They also do not have to show that the fraud scheme actually defrauded somebody.

In addition, the government can charge you with separate counts of wire fraud for every time you used a form of electronic communication to further the fraud scheme. So, if you sent 20 emails to people as part of a fraud scheme, you can be charged with 20 acts of wire fraud.

Fighting Your Wire Fraud Charges

At Haas Law, we will thoroughly investigate the charges against you, looking for holes in the prosecution’s case and developing strategies essential to building the best possible defense. The strategies will, of course, depend on the specific circumstances of your case, but there are some general defenses that are effective for fighting wire fraud charges:

• Good faith. To obtain a wire fraud conviction, the government has to prove you intended to defraud someone. A possible defense is then that you did not intend to enter into a scheme to defraud anyone. For example, if you were acting on advice from a lawyer, or you didn’t have any financial motive, or you tried to rectify the situation once you found out about it, a good faith defense would be an effective defense strategy.
• Puffery. Another instance of lack of intent occurs when you use “puffery,” such as hyperbolic statements or flattery to persuade potential customers. Salespeople often engage in puffery when communicating with prospective buyers, so most people understand such statements for they are, and don’t rely on them for accurate information about a transaction.

Before determining the best defense strategy, Attorney David Haas will examine the circumstances surrounding your case, evaluate your options and explain them in detail, and work to resolve your situation in the most satisfactory way possible. Throughout the entire process, the focus will be on aggressively defending your rights and protecting your interests.

Contact Haas Law for an Aggressive Defense Against Wire Fraud Charges

A conviction for wire fraud can be devastating to you and your family, so please don’t hesitate to get help from a qualified, experienced federal defense attorney as soon as possible. If you need help when you’re being investigated, after you’ve been charged, or on appeal, call Haas Law. We will put our knowledge and experience to work fighting for you.

In wire fraud cases, having an attorney with federal experience is very important. Effective communication with federal agents and federal prosecutors is necessary, so hiring an attorney who has years of experience as a federal prosecutor and “speaks the same language” is crucial to having a strong defense.

You have rights, and you deserve to have them vigorously protected. Contact us at 407-755-7675 or submit our “Tell Us What Happened” form online as soon as possible so we can counter the prosecution with a powerful, strategic defense.