Fort Lauderdale Mail & Wire Fraud Lawyer

Federal law prohibits the transmission of information through mail or wire with the intent to fraudulently deprive anyone of his or her property or of the receipt of an honest service. The first mail fraud statute was introduced by Congress in 1872. Later, the Mail Fraud Act and was amended to include commercial mail carriers and schemes that involve fraudulent promises to deliver service, and the wire fraud act was enacted. If you live in Florida and are facing related criminal charges, call the Fort Lauderdale wire fraud attorneys at Joffe Law, P.A. to help you chart the best path forward for your defense.

What constitutes wire fraud?

In 1952, Congress extended the provisions of the mail fraud statute to cover newer technologies by enacting the wire fraud statute. The wire fraud statute prohibits people from using electronic signals across state lines and internationally in the furtherance of a fraudulent scheme. Wire, radio, and television are specific devices mentioned in the statute; however, the law also covers many computer and Internet federal crimes. A federal prosecutor must establish the following to obtain a wire fraud conviction:

• the defendant played a role in a scheme to defraud a person or entity of money or something of value through fraud and false pretenses;
• the defended acted knowingly or with the intent to defraud the victim;
• the defendant made false representations that were material to the transaction;
• the defendant transmitted the false representation by wire, radio or television across state lines or international borders.

If any of the above applies to your case, call a Fort Lauderdale wire fraud attorney like David Joffe immediately to discuss your best options for a potent defense.

Examples of wire fraud

Wire fraud schemes typically involve on stealing people’s money and financial information with the intent to access bank accounts and credit cards to make purchases and even open new accounts. Phishing is a very common wire fraud scheme that is used to access unauthorized information. Most people are familiar with spam emails that usually originate from another country and detail reasons the email recipient should reply to the sender with his or her banking information or other personal information. Other examples of wire fraud include telemarketing schemes through which the victim’s credit card or other financial information is solicited, often to confirm a non-existent subscription or claim a fraudulent prize.

Organizations that participate in fraudulent schemes sometimes employ unsuspecting people who may legitimately believe their are working a legal job that does not violate any federal or state laws. Therefore, it is possible that an innocent person might become entangled in a fraudulent scheme and face federal criminal charges as a result.

The Coronavirus pandemic will prompt a sharp rise in wire fraud cases, federal and state officials are warning.

What constitutes mail fraud?

Because the federal mail fraud statute was written broadly, it is very common for defendants to be charged with the offense, especially in cases that involve other white collar crimes like bank fraud. An individual in Fort Lauderdale may be convicted of mail fraud if the prosecutor establishes:

• the accused devised or intended to devise a scheme or artifice to defraud or obtain another person or institution’s money through the use of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises;
• the false or fraudulent pretense, promise, or misrepresentation was material and capable of influencing the person to whom it was addressed;
• the accused intended to deprive another party of money, property, or honest services;
• the accused used the U.S. Postal Service or another commercial mail carrier in the furtherance of the scheme.

All four elements must be met in order to convict a defendant. Prosecutors also sometimes charge a defendant with mail fraud when they are concerned that there may not be enough evidence to convict the defendant of a related offense. Nevertheless, mail fraud is treated seriously by law enforcement and federal prosecutors. Therefore, individuals who are accused of mail fraud should immediately contact an experienced Fort Lauderdale mail fraud defense lawyer to ensure their rights are protected from the start.

Examples of mail fraud

Because the definition of mail fraud is broad, nearly any type of scheme can be considered to be in violation of the statute. Nevertheless, there are common schemes with which most people are familiar. These schemes are used to defraud people out of their money, personal information, and assets. Examples include:

• 1-900 telephone numbers;
• loan schemes that charge an upfront fee;
• soliciting donations to a fraudulent charity;
• credit card fraud;
• charging money for free government services;
• health insurance fraud;
• Ponzi schemes;
• fake invoices;
• land fraud;
• work-from-home scams;
• sweepstakes;

Penalties for mail and wire fraud

Mail and wire fraud are federal offenses that carry severe sentences. If a Fort Lauderdale resident is convicted of mail fraud, he or she may be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, pay a as much as $250,000 in fines, be put on probation, and/or be required to pay restitution to the victim. Wire fraud carries a separate sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment and a maximum of $250,000 in fines. With penalties so steep, trust a private federal defense attorney to mount a strong defense. Most public defenders are well-meaning, but they have dozens of cases on their desk. Fort Lauderdale wire fraud attorney David Joffe can ensure your case receives the attention it demands.

Reach a fraud lawyer near you in Fort Lauderdale

Those who find themselves faced with mail or wire fraud charges or informal accusations should contact a qualified fraud defense lawyer, even if they have simply been asked by law enforcement to come in for a voluntary interview. Having a Fort Lauderdale mail or wire fraud attorney present during all interactions with police can ensure an accused person avoid self-incrimination and feel more at ease while cooperating with the investigation to the extent he or she should. A mail/wire fraud defense lawyer at Joffe Law, P.A. is available to provide a confidential case consultation free of charge. We represent clients in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Florida.

UPDATE, OCTOBER 24, 2021: Numerous state and federal officials have warned of an increase of wire fraud activities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you find yourself facing federal charges related to Coronavirus in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Florida, consult with a federal defense attorney to avoid making a mistake that could cost you your freedom. Call even if you feel you are under investigation. The earlier we’re brought into the process, the better our chance of a desirable outcome for your case.