Fraud Attorney in St. Louis, MO

Under the law, what is considered to be a fraudulent offense?

In the state of Missouri, fraud is classified as a "white collar crime." Although this would indicate that those who most commonly engage in fraudulent activities are of a high social standing, this stereotype does not necessarily ring true anymore. Since the advent of the internet, almost anyone can commit an act of fraud in the comfort of their own home. For this reason, lawmakers throughout the United States have begun to crack down on potential offenders. But what exactly constitutes an act of fraud? Generally speaking, fraud can be defined as intentional deception made for the purpose of personal gain and/or with the intention of causing damage to another person. Under the broad scope of this definition, one could be accused of committing fraud under a number of different circumstances.

The Most Common Types of Fraud in the U.S.

Although the definition of fraud encompasses a wide variety of criminal offenses, some are more commonly prosecuted than others. In fact, cases involving identity theft and credit card fraud have quickly hit an all-time high. For this reason, the legal team at our firm encourages you to take action immediately if you have been accused of, or charged with, any of the following fraud crimes:

• Identity theft
• Credit card fraud
• Computer / internet fraud
• Investment & securities fraud
• Insurance fraud
• Tax fraud / tax evasion
• Mortgage fraud
• Check fraud

Examining the Penalties for Fraud Crimes in Missouri

White collar crimes are severely punished in the state of Missouri-especially when the criminal offense involves the misrepresentation of one's identity. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you trust in the St. Louis criminal defense attorney at the Sumner Law Group, LLC to shield you from the penalties of a fraud conviction. Depending on the nature of the offense that you have been accused of committing, it is possible that you could be sentenced to hard time behind bars. For example, you could be sentenced to one year in jail if you had knowingly used a stolen or fake credit card, as this crime would be charged as a Class A misdemeanor. If the use of that card had resulting in an excess of $500 in charges, however, you could be facing a Class D felony-which could lead to four years imprisonment in the state of Missouri.

Contact a St. Louis Criminal Defense Attorney Immediately

If you or someone you love has been accused of engaging in fraudulent activities, it is imperative that you take action quickly. Not only could you be facing mandatory incarceration, but you may also be expected to pay a hefty fine if you are convicted. For this reason, there is no reason why you should wait any longer to retain the professional help that you will need to successfully fight your criminal charges. When you discuss your case with a St. Louis criminal defense lawyer from the Sumner Law Group, LLC, you will have the opportunity to develop an effective plan of attack. Whether you have been charged with identity theft or you have been accused of intentionally writing a bad check, we will be your side to guide you through the subsequent criminal process. For this reason, we ask you to get started today by contacting our firm at (314) 485-9948 or filling out a free case evaluation form online.