West Palm Beach Mail, Bank & Wire Fraud Attorney

Aggressive prosecutors routinely charge defendants with mail, bank or wire fraud to obtain a conviction that might otherwise be impossible. In our experience, the government needs very little evidence to sustain an indictment and obtain a conviction with these charges. Many innocent people get caught up in these prosecutions, often when they are completely innocent. If you have been charged with mail, bank, or wire fraud, you should contact a West Palm Beach fraud attorney now.

Defining the Crimes

Mail fraud encompasses any scheme perpetrated with the intent to defraud or obtain property or money by fraudulent means, so long as you use the mail or private carriers to further the scheme. For example, someone who mails solicitations as part of a fraudulent real estate scheme could be charged with mail fraud. Use of the mail or private carriers is essential for a mail fraud charge; however, the mailing itself could be incidental to the overall scheme.

Federal prosecutors bring wire fraud charges under 18 U.S.C. 1343 whenever the fraudulent scheme involves electronic transmittal in foreign or interstate commerce. The elements for wire fraud parallel those of mail fraud but, instead of using mail, the defendant must have used a telephone call or electronic communication across state lines. For example, someone who sells fake vitamins and calls out-of-state customers has committed wire fraud. As with mail fraud, the phone call might itself be incidental to the overall fraudulent scheme.

Under 18 U.S.C. 1344, bank fraud includes any scheme a defendant knowingly participates in to defraud a financial institution or obtain money or other assets by false promises, pretenses, or representations.