Three East Texas women were recently indicted in an $8 million mortgage fraud scheme. One of the three women has been dubbed the "Short Sale Queen." In addition to mortgage fraud, the three were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured financial institution. Three digital companies, including Short Sale Queen, LLC, were used to find homeowners in the pre-foreclosure short sale process and then help the homeowners list the properties for sale. After obtaining a signed listing agreement with the homeowners, fake documents,…Read More
A Plano, TX pharmacist was recently sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $115 million in restitution for committing healthcare fraud against the Department of Labor (DOL). According to evidence submitted at trial, the pharmacist was submitting fraudulent claims for prescription compounded creams for those injured in Texas workers’ compensation accidents. The pharmacist, along with others he brought into the scheme, conspired to pay doctors to prescribe medically unnecessary compound creams for injured federal workers. The doctors were paid millions in illegal bribes and kickbacks for prescribing these…Read More
Bank fraud is a serious federal crime. It can entail a list of illegal activities, including fraudulent transactions, money laundering, and the use of fake identities and documents. Having a legal representative who is well-versed in the federal laws that govern these cases and the legal arguments that can fight the charges is crucial to a strong defense. Consider some common examples of how our Dallas, TX bank fraud attorneys may be able to help you challenge bank fraud charges. Lack Of Intent To Defraud A key element of bank fraud cases is intent,…Read More
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
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
A lot of people in Texas are without health insurance. Not all employers are required to offer it, and getting insured on your own can be prohibitively expensive. Some people are caught in the middle, where they cannot afford insurance but do not qualify for Medicaid. If you are fortunate enough to have health insurance, it may occur to you to let someone you care about who is uninsured use your information and identity to get healthcare. While wanting to help others access healthcare is commendable, going about it the…Read More