Orange County Fraud Defense Lawyer

Common Types of Fraud Charges

Some of the most common forms of fraud in Orange County are:

• Auto insurance fraud: Auto insurance fraud often occurs when someone fakes an accident or lies about the value of their claim to get more benefits than they would typically get through their insurance policy.
• Health insurance fraud: Anyone from doctors and hospital management staff to pharmacists can be involved. Offenses can include overcharging for medical services, receiving kickbacks for specific prescriptions, or violating California’s Medi-Cal laws.
• Unemployment fraud: You can never attempt to increase, reduce, or deny unemployment benefits. This includes collecting benefits in multiple states or intentionally lying about why an employee was terminated. This can also involve workers’ compensation fraud or welfare fraud.
• Check and credit card fraud: Any time you make, use, or possess a check intending to defraud the payee, you could be charged with check fraud based on California’s white collar crime laws. Credit card fraud generally occurs when someone fraudulently uses another person’s credit or debit card, such as after stealing it.
• Real estate and mortgage fraud: One of the most frequently prosecuted types of fraud in the larger metropolitan areas of California is foreclosure fraud, which is illegal property flipping and rent-skimming. Inflating rent prices without a valid reason can also constitute real estate fraud.
• Stock securities fraud: Securities fraud involves tricking or coercing investors to make decisions on fake information for your own gain. It is often referred to as stock fraud or investment fraud, and it can involve altering financial statements to encourage investment or lying about a company’s value.

Penalties for Fraud Convictions

Fraud convictions in Orange County can result in severe penalties that impact various aspects of your life. These consequences may include:

• Professional License Suspension or Revocation: Many fraud convictions, particularly those involving professional services like healthcare or finance, can lead to suspending or permanently losing a professional license.
• Fines: Courts often impose substantial fines in fraud cases, ranging from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the severity and scope of the offense.
• Jail or Prison Time: Convictions may result in lengthy jail or prison sentences, with federal fraud charges typically carrying more severe sentencing guidelines than state offenses.
• Crime of Moral Turpitude: Fraud is often classified as a crime of moral turpitude, which can have additional legal and social consequences, including difficulties securing employment or housing.

For non-citizens, the stakes are even higher. Lawful permanent residents convicted of fraud may face deportation, as crimes of moral turpitude can lead to removal proceedings under immigration law. This underscores the urgency of seeking legal assistance. Given a fraud conviction’s severe and long-lasting effects, working with an experienced defense attorney like Jacqueline Goodman is essential to protect your future and minimize the penalties you may face.

Defenses Against Fraud Charges

Depending on the circumstances, various defenses can be used to challenge fraud charges. Some of the most effective defenses include:

• Lack of Intent: Fraud typically requires that the defendant acted with intent to deceive. If it can be shown that the actions were unintentional or due to a misunderstanding, the charges may be reduced or dismissed.
• Insufficient Evidence: The prosecution must provide clear, convincing evidence to prove fraud. If the evidence is weak or lacking, the defense can argue that the case doesn’t meet the burden of proof.
• Mistaken Identity: In cases involving multiple parties, it’s possible to be wrongly accused of fraud. This defense can be used if there’s a chance someone else committed the offense.
• Entrapment: The entrapment defense may apply if law enforcement coerced or pressured the defendant into committing fraud. This occurs when authorities create an opportunity for fraud that the defendant wouldn’t have otherwise pursued.
• Lack of Knowledge: In certain fraud cases, the defendant may not have been aware of any illegal activity, such as in cases involving complex financial transactions or third-party actions.

Attorney Jacqueline Goodman will examine every angle of your case to determine which defense is most likely to lead to a favorable outcome.