Many crimes in the United States come with a statute of limitations. This is essentially a time limit for prosecutors to pursue a case against you, and once the statute of limitations expires, you cannot be charged with a crime. If you have been accused of a criminal fraud offense from years ago, you might be protected by the statute of limitations. At Spencer & Associates, our white collar crime attorneys have handled many complex and high-profile fraud cases, including numerous federal cases. When you work with our firm, we will explore…Read More
It is very easy to carry out bankruptcy fraud without truly intending to. Making an inaccurate statement on your bankruptcy filing can be enough to get you charged with fraud, even if you did not realize the information you provided was inaccurate. Bankruptcy law also creates an unusual set of circumstances where you could be charged with bankruptcy fraud for something you did before you even decided to file for bankruptcy. People can be accused of bankruptcy fraud just for making a luxury purpose a month before filing. However, being accused of…Read More
Wire fraud charges are part of many federal white-collar criminal cases. When the criminal case is mainly about a crime like embezzlement or credit card fraud, defendants do not always understand why they have been charged with this particular offense. This is likely because the definition of wire fraud has changed greatly over the past several decades. Before the internet, wire fraud involved wire money transfers or other wired communication. If the offense were created today, it would likely have been called something closer to "fraud by electronic communication." Wire fraud today simply…Read More
The elderly are a frequently targeted group. Older adults often have a more difficult time spotting a scam being run online or identifying a badly unfair contract. Seniors also tend to struggle with social isolation, making them more vulnerable to manipulation by anyone posing as a friend or love interest. Financial fraud against the elderly can take many forms, from very simple fake product schemes to more complicated business schemes designed to trick the elderly into long-term contracts that will offer them no benefit. The federal criminal justice system classifies senior citizens…Read More
Using another person’s credit card without his or her consent can be treated as credit card fraud. Even if the person whose credit card you used without consent is a family member, you can still be charged with a federal crime. While unauthorized borrowing of a relative’s credit card might seem more like a family issue than a legal one, these types of prosecutions are not uncommon in federal courts. Often, these cases escape the notice of law enforcement because family members may hesitate to report each other unless it is absolutely…Read More
The winter holiday season is often called the "season of giving." Individuals and corporations alike are most likely to make charitable donations during the month of decision. Not only is it the holidays, but it is also the end of the year, causing people and businesses hoping to get their tax write-offs to make last-minute donations. With the amount of people who donate and the number of organizations that aggressively seek donations during this time of year, it should be unsurprising that those seeking to profit from charity fraud are…Read More
If you know that you are under federal investigation for a white-collar crime like embezzlement or tax fraud, arrest is likely imminent. Unless everything the federal investigators find shows that you must be innocent, you should anticipate an arrest in the coming weeks or months. You will probably not be warned in advance that an arrest is coming - the federal police prefer to take suspects by surprise so they do not have a chance to flee the state or worse, fight back. Unfortunately, this means that you could be abruptly plucked…Read More
When you hear about someone who was caught embezzling in the news, it is normally a high-level employee who stole hundreds of thousands or more from an employer or non-profit and carefully covered his tracks for years before getting caught. This leads most people to think of embezzlement as a high-profit and sophisticated criminal scheme. However, the cases that make the news are often outliers. Embezzlement is a more common criminal charge than most people realize, and are frequently prosecuted at the federal level. This may also mean that you were shocked when you…Read More
Cryptocurrency fraud can lead to serious federal charges. While cryptocurrency is largely unregulated and untraceable - which is a feature, not a bug - using it to defraud others is still a crime. It can be difficult for federal law enforcement to tell the difference between someone who is running a legitimate cryptocurrency investment scheme and someone who is running an investment scam. Asking people to send you money to invest for them is always a risky plan. Even if you are legitimately trying to help people make money, losing investment…Read More
When you are a white-collar professional, jail can be especially uncomfortable. You likely have never experienced these types of conditions before, and the other inmates may take issue with you due to your status. You may be left feeling like a fish out of water. Fortunately, most people accused of white-collar crime are able to make bail and go home to await trial in relative comfort. Because you are dealing with the federal court system, the bail process is slightly different than it would be if you were accused of a state-level crime and…Read More