Cook County Federal Wire Fraud Attorney

Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer for Computer or Internet Fraud Charges

There are a variety of different offenses that are considered to be white collar crimes, and these cases generally involve illegal financial transactions or the theft or misuse of someone else's information. Many types of fraud fit into this category, and charges can vary in severity depending on the number of people who were affected and the amount of money involved. Wire fraud charges can be especially serious, since these cases may affect people in multiple states, which may lead a case to be prosecuted at the federal level.

Those who are facing federal fraud charges will need a skilled and experienced attorney on their side who can help them determine the ideal defense strategy. Attorney Hal M. Garfinkel has represented clients in many different types of criminal cases at the state and federal levels. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of criminal law, and he is fully prepared to advocate on your behalf in the courtroom, protecting your rights and helping you achieve positive results in your case.

What Is Wire Fraud?

A person may face fraud charges if they allegedly participated in a scheme meant to obtain money or property from someone else through false pretenses. This may include situations in which a person misrepresents themselves as someone such as a government agent or law enforcement official or makes untrue or exaggerated claims about a product or investment.

Wire fraud charges may apply if a person allegedly used any form of electronic communication as part of a fraudulent scheme. Examples of wire fraud include:

• False claims made in television or radio advertisements
• Calling a person on the phone and claiming to be an IRS agent in order to obtain their identifying information and commit identity theft
• Contacting people via email to ask them to invest in a fraudulent enterprise
• Capturing credit card information through online "phishing" schemes, such as creating a website that mimics the site of a popular company

To be convicted of wire fraud, a person must have intentionally formulated or participated in a scheme that was meant to defraud one or more people of money or property, and they must have used or planned to use electronic communications to further that scheme. Federal wire fraud charges may apply if a scheme involved the use of interstate wire communications. A conviction in federal court can lead to a prison sentence of up to 20 years, as well as fines of up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a business or organization. If fraud was related to a major disaster or emergency declared by the president of the United States, or if the offense involved a bank or financial institution, a person may face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

In many cases, the best defense against wire fraud charges involves demonstrating that a person did not intend to commit fraud. A skilled criminal defense attorney may be able to show that a defendant acted in good faith or did not know that they had provided false information or misleading statements to the alleged victims.

Contact Our Chicago, IL Wire Fraud Defense Lawyer

If you are facing federal fraud charges, you will need a lawyer on your side who is experienced in handling these types of cases. Attorney Hal Garfinkel has defended clients in multiple types of state and federal cases, and he understands the best defense strategies that can help you avoid a conviction or minimize the potential penalties you may face. He will fight to protect your rights, ensure that evidence that was obtained illegally will not be admitted in a trial, and advocate for you before a judge or jury. To set up a free consultation, contact our office at 312-629-0669. We are available to speak to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and Mr. Garfinkel can meet with you in our office or other locations, including in the evenings and on weekends.