THOROUGH GREENSBORO FRAUD DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
More than 65 combined years on your side
Fraud is a very broad term that encompasses many, many types of crimes. What they all have in common is knowingly obtaining money, goods, property, services or anything of value under false pretenses.
Lawyers at Clifford & Harris, PLLC have defended all manner of fraud charges with diligence and excellence. From identity theft to credit card fraud to passing bad checks, we provide optimal representation that achieves results.
Elements required to prove fraud in North Carolina
In order to convict you of fraud, the state must show that:
- You made a false representation or hid and past or present important fact
- Your action was reasonably calculated to deceive
- You intended to deceive
- The deceit caused damage
The state must establish more than the fact that you filed an incorrect insurance claim or wrote some bad checks. It must prove intent. So, one of the most obvious defenses is to prove that your action was not intentional but was accidental or inadvertent. The nuances between the two are slight and require a skilled defense attorney to expose.br>
How our lawyers can help
At the first sign that you are under investigation, you should discuss your situation with an attorney at Clifford & Harris, PLLC in Greensboro. If you notice suspicious activity at the office or in your neighborhood, or odd requests for documents, an investigation may be underway.
Whether you contact us before or after your arrest, our attorneys conduct our own investigation and rely on reputable experts in finance, accounting, computers and insurance, among others, to expose all of the facts of your case and build a powerful defense.
We represent individuals, corporations, corporate officers, directors and employees throughout Guilford County and across North Carolina in cases filed by federal, state and local agencies. Among the many charges we defend are the following:
- Bank fraud
- Bankruptcy fraud
- Check fraud
- Counterfeiting
- Credit card fraud
- Embezzlement
- Forgery
- Health care fraud
- Identity theft
- Insurance fraud
- Investment fraud
- Mail fraud
- Medicare fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Securities fraud
- Tax fraud
- Telemarketing fraud
- Wire fraud
Penalties vary
Most of these cases are considered white collar crimes, and many of them are charged in federal court.
Each type of charge carries its own standard of proof and penalties for conviction under state and federal law. For example, under North Carolina Article 19, § 14-100, obtaining by false pretenses something with a value of more than $100,000 is a Class C felony, which comes with a sentence of 44 to 92 months if you have no prior convictions. If the value is less than $100,000, it is a Class H felony with four to eight months in prison.
Writing a worthless check is a Class I felony if the amount of the check is more than $2,000. Writing bad checks of less than $2,000 is a misdemeanor.
If you have not yet been charged with a crime but have reason to believe that you might be, consider talking to an attorney about the circumstances and seek legal advice about how the situation might be remedied before charges are taken out.
Serious fraud defense lawyers in Greensboro and High Point
Do not delay in contacting Clifford & Harris, PLLC. The sooner we become involved in your case, the sooner we can craft the best possible defense. Call our law firm at 336-574-2788 or email us to arrange a free consultation today.