Roanoke, Virginia Fraud Defense Lawyer

Fraud occurs when a person or corporation knowingly misrepresents a fact to another for the purpose of gaining something of value. A fraud charge can arise in many areas: Health care, banking, mortgage lending, tax evasion and tax avoidance, and insurance,  just to name a few. Contact the law firm of Lichtenstein Law Group PLC, and speak with a fraud defense attorney in Roanoke today.

You can be accused of fraud for allegedly doing something as simple as putting incorrect information on a form or for doing something as complex as creating a sophisticated investment system. Whether there is substantial evidence that you (or your company) acted with intent to deceive typically emerges as the key issue.

Our Fraud Defense Lawyers in Virginia Can Help You

No matter what type of fraud you have been charged with, and regardless of whether you have been accused of violating state or federal law, you must take the charge seriously. Your assets, your career and your freedom are in jeopardy. You will need an experienced Roanoke, Virginia criminal defense lawyer at your side.

The law firm of Lichtenstein Law Group PLC is here to help you. Attorney John E. Lichtenstein is a master litigator who has been listed in Virginia Super Lawyers every year since 2006. He has hand-picked a legal team that is fully committed to protecting the rights of the accused and doing everything possible to deliver a positive result. Whether you’ve been charged with tax fraud, securities fraud, or some other type of fraud, our defense attorneys can help you get your life back.

We serve clients charged with state or federal fraud crimes in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, Norfolk, and throughout Virginia. Don’t wait to get legal help. Contact us today to discuss your case in a confidential consultation.

Types of Fraud Cases Our Lawyers Handle

Lichtenstein Law Group PLC has defended clients accused of fraud crimes in both Virginia’s state court system as well as in federal courts. We know the important differences in how each court system operates. We are completely comfortable litigating criminal law defense cases in either system.

We can assist clients in a broad range of fraud cases, including those that involve:

• Health care fraud – Medical identity theft, billing health insurance providers or Medicare for unnecessary or unfurnished items or services, billing at a higher level of complexity than services provided (“upcoding”), billing for multiple services covered by a single code (“unbundling”) and offering inducements for patient referrals (“kickbacks”).
• Bank fraud – Using deception to acquire money and other assets from a financial institution or a bank’s depositors or operating as an unlicensed, uninsured financial institution.
• Mortgage fraud – Knowingly making false statements of fact in any stage of the real estate process in order to obtain funds, including use of fraudulent documentation, credit reports or property appraisals or the unlawful use of “straw buyers.”
• Insurance fraud – Using deceit at any point in the insurance claims process to obtain money, including making false or exaggerated claims of losses.
• Securities fraud – Deceiving investors or manipulating financial markets such as using money from new investors to pay previous investors (Ponzi or pyramid schemes) or collecting fees or unnecessary or unfurnished services.
• Tax fraud – Failing to report taxable income, tax evasion, offshore accounts, intentionally exaggerating expenses or failing to file a tax return or any other type of fraud targeted by the IRS.

In many fraud cases our lawyers handle, a client may also face related wire fraud, mail fraud, or racketeering charges. We believe it is essential to investigate and analyze each charge separately and to advise our clients accordingly.

The Consequences of a Fraud Conviction in Virginia

Conviction for a fraud crime in Virginia can carry many direct and collateral consequences. Of course, it can impact your reputation and business and personal relationships as well. As you move forward, you should strongly consider these consequences. Whether convicted in state or federal court, you could face:

• Direct consequences – Depending on factors such as the nature of the fraud offense, the amount of money involved and your own criminal history, you could be subject to fines, restitution, prison time, or probation. You may also have civil claims brought against you by a state or federal agency.
• Collateral consequences – If you are a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or other licensed professional, you could be sanctioned or, in all likelihood, stripped of your license to practice your profession. You could also lose everything from the right to vote to the ability to get a loan.
• Personal consequences – A conviction for any fraud offense – felony or misdemeanor – may cause business associates to steer clear of working with you and put a strain on relationships with friends and even family.

In other words, a fraud charge in Virginia is a serious matter. It demands that you seek serious legal representation. It will be important to work with a criminal defense attorney who truly respects the principle that you are innocent until proven otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt by state or federal prosecutors.

Reasons to Hire an Experienced Roanoke Lawyer for Your Fraud Defense

The state and federal governments have an immense amount of resources on their side. Numerous attorneys, law enforcement officers and experts may have contributed to pursuing the fraud charges against you.

An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you to level the playing field by:

• Investigating your case – A lawyer can obtain discovery of the prosecution’s evidence against you and work with private investigators and experts to uncover important evidence that could help your defense against fraud charges.
• Analyzing the charges against you – Your attorney should bring to your case a strong grasp of the legal issues involved as well as a firm understanding of how medical billing, banking, lending, insurance, taxes or investments work.
• Challenging the evidence – If the evidence against you was unlawfully obtained or otherwise violates state or federal rules if used against you, your lawyer can take steps to seek an exclusion of that evidence. In some cases, exclusion of evidence can lead to a dismissal of a charge.
• Providing sound legal advice – Based on a careful assessment of the fraud charges, evidence, legal theories, and available defenses in your case, an attorney can advise you on whether entering into a plea or going to trial will ultimately serve your best interests. An attorney can also map out an effective strategy. Many fraud cases are hard to comprehend without legal training. Tax fraud cases, for example, can be difficult to understand. Many people get audited by the IRS each year and don’t even fully understand why, but good tax fraud attorneys can quickly explain the charges and help the client understand what to do next.
• Communicating clearly and persuasively – Your attorney can negotiate with prosecutors for a plea that will minimize the consequences you face – including possible prison, fines or restitution – or present a polished defense on your behalf before a judge and jury in pursuit of an acquittal.

At the law firm of Lichtenstein Law Group PLC, we know that – above all – we can give you peace of mind during a trying time. While your fraud charges are pending, you can be assured that our legal team will be fighting hard and fighting fair for you.

Get Help from Our Virginia Fraud Defense Lawyer Today

Attorney John E. Lichtenstein has nearly three decades of experience in criminal defense. He truly cares about the people our firm represents, and this shows in the vigorous defense we provide to each and every one of our clients.

Your rights and liberty are in jeopardy the moment you are charged with a fraud crime in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, Norfolk or elsewhere in Virginia. Whether you need a tax fraud lawyer or a general fraud attorney, we can help you. Don’t wait to get the passionate and professional legal help you deserve. Contact us today.