Orange County Fraud Crime Defense Lawyers
Orange County Fraud Crime
ORANGE COUNTY RESOURCES
Although small in size, Orange County is an incredibly fast growing portion of California. With over 3,000,000 residents, it is the third most populated county in the state. Crimes are a natural but unfortunate result in areas of high population and white collar crimes, such as fraud, are bound to occur.
Crimes that are defined as being committed through fraud fall into the category of theft in California under California Penal Code Section 484. Specifically, fraud is committed when a person uses a false representation or disguise to coerce another into entrusting them with their property and/or money and then unlawfully taking it. For example, when an individual represents themselves as a member of a trusted company and obtains credit card or social security information and uses to for their own gain, they have committed fraud.
How is fraud crime punished in California?
As fraud falls under the category of theft, punishments for the crime are subject to the same rules and depend on the amount of money taken or the monetary value of the property fraudulently gained. If the amount is less than $950, the crime is counted as petty theft, while over the amount constitutes grand theft. In California, petty theft is punishable by either a maximum $1,000 fine, up to six months imprisonment in county jail, or both. Grand theft can be punished by a maximum of one year in county jail.
In addition, the court may require that the defendant found guilty of fraud to make restitution to those that have lost money or property due to the crime. The restitution cannot be greater than the amount of losses that the victim had sustained.
What are the common forms of fraud crime in California?
As fraud involves deliberate misrepresentation to access money or property, there are many crimes that can be considered to be fraud. Some of these crimes are:
- Identity theft;
- Forgery;
- Tax fraud;
- Investment fraud, such as Ponzi or Pyramid schemes;
- Embezzlement;
- Insurance fraud; and
- False billing.
All of these acts involve using some form of misrepresentation to create trust in order to access money or property and then unlawfully take those possessions. Although victims may originally believe that they are entering into a lawful transaction, the reality is that such matters are criminal actions.
What is considered misrepresentation?
A defendant can be shown to have misrepresented him- or herself by providing:
- False information;
- False verification of his or her true identity;
- False proof of the authority to sell property or receive money;
- A false name or address; and
- A false report of his or her wealth and/or character
Contact Fraud Defense Attorney Jeremy Goldman
Being charged with a serious crime such as fraud can be a confusing and terrifying time in a person's life. Fraud charges can lead to severe penalties that not only punish a person for the time they are in effect, but can affect their personal lives and careers for years to come. Orange County fraud defense attorney Jeremy Goldman has years of experience in Southern California criminal defense and can use his vast knowledge and experience to protect you from severe punishments. Contact the Law Offices of Jeremy Goldman today by calling (800) 349-1619 or search our website for more information.
