Nebraska Federal Wire Fraud Lawyer

Wire fraud is a federal fraud offense that often accompanies other criminal charges. Regardless of the situation, if you are facing criminal charges for wire fraud, you may find the legal guidance of a Nebraska federal wire fraud lawyer helpful.

To justify charges of wire fraud, federal prosecutors must provide evidence that the accused individual used interstate communications, which includes telephone lines, the Internet, and television or radio, to carry out an intentional fraud offense. Since almost any fraud offense involves usage of these modes of communication at some point, wire fraud typically accompanies other fraud charges. An aggressive federal fraud lawyer could help you build a strong defense to any charges you may be facing.

Proving Federal Charges in Nebraska

Proving federal wire charges requires evidence of an intent to defraud other individuals, companies, or government agencies. However, a federal wire fraud conviction does not require proof that someone carried out a fraud offense. An attempt to commit an intentional fraud offense is enough to justify a wire fraud conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1343.

In some cases, however, federal prosecutors pursue federal wire fraud charges very aggressively, often because they have insufficient evidence to charge someone with any other criminal offense. So long as prosecutors can prove that someone engaged in intentional deception designed to cause financial losses to others for their gain, they can sustain a conviction for wire fraud. As a result, anyone facing these charges should contact a skilled Nebraska federal wire fraud lawyer as soon as an investigation begins or charges are filed.

Charges for Wire Fraud

The underlying fraud offense in a wire fraud charge can be any scheme or plan that involves an element of dishonesty or deceit. Bank fraud, check fraud, health care fraud, and even merely accepting payment for goods and not providing the goods can be the basis for a charge. A wire fraud conviction does not require that the alleged targets of the fraud suffered any financial losses, but only that the accused individual intended to commit the fraud.

Separate fraud offenses also constitute separate fraud counts. In other words, individuals who sent email messages to five different potential targets to carry out a fraudulent scheme can face five separate charges of wire fraud.

Potential Defenses

One of the most common defenses in wire fraud is good faith or lack of intent to commit a crime. Prosecutors often rely on circumstantial evidence to prove that individuals knew they were committing fraud or other illegal actions. To counter that evidence, a person may be able to provide proof that he or she had no intentions of defrauding others or honestly did not realize he or she was breaking the law.

Closely related to the defense of lack of intent is a defense based on a mistake of fact. For example, if someone was unaware of certain material facts in a specific situation, then he or she may not have realized that he or she was committing fraud or acting illegally. A knowledgeable federal wire fraud attorney in Nebraska could evaluate the defenses available and determine the course of action that is most likely to be effective in your case.

A Nebraska Federal Wire Fraud Attorney Can Help

The potential penalties for wire fraud can include fines and up to 20 years in federal prison. These penalties may increase if you are facing a conviction on multiple counts of wire fraud. Due to the possible severity of these charges, you should look to a Nebraska federal wire fraud lawyer for advice and representation. Call Berry Law today for a confidential case evaluation.