In the U.S., a person might face fraud accusations for several reasons. Fraud is intentionally misleading others or falsifying the truth to gain power, money, or another personal advantage. A person can even face charges for intending to commit fraud under United States law.
Regardless of exactly which type of fraud charge you face, the consequences can have long-lasting effects on your life and may result in substantial jail time. A criminal defense attorney at Hart Powell, S.C. will be able to review the facts of your case and help you navigate the confusing legal process.
Aggressive legal defense
The criminal defense attorneys at Hart Powell, S.C. have provided hundreds of Milwaukee residents accused of fraud with effective legal representation. We are known throughout Wisconsin for our ability to have charges dropped, sentences reduced, and acquittals honored. Over the last 25 years, our legal team has gone above and beyond to provide the best legal services to the community we call home. Our partners are American Association for Justice members and have upheld a Superb Rating by AVVO.
Although aggressive and relentless in the courtroom, we treat each client with compassion and understanding. We know how overwhelming life can be when you face fraud accusations. The repercussions of these charges can be life-altering and lead to jail time. That is why we are committed to helping you every step of the way to avoid the worst-case scenario. If you or someone you love has been accused of fraud, you need a skilled and experienced attorney to defend you.
The Milwaukee fraud defense lawyers of Hart Powell, S.C. are committed to fighting for our clients’ rights. To speak with one of our tenacious defense attorneys, contact our office today at (414) 271-9595, fill out our email form, or chat live with us today.
Why You Should Choose Hart Powell, S.C. to Handle Your Case
If you are searching for legal representation after being charged with fraud, you probably have many questions: How do you know which firm you can trust? How do you know which criminal defense lawyer will give your case the time and consideration it deserves? Which firm is right for you? The fact is that not all criminal defense attorneys are the same, and selecting the right lawyer is crucial to determining what your future will hold. These are some of the factors that set Hart Powell, S.C. a tier above the rest:
- Experience: Hart Powell, S.C. was founded in Milwaukee in 1993. Since then, our firm has realized incredible growth and has received recognition across the state for our dedicated criminal defense efforts.
- Track Record: We understand that you want the assistance of a firm that has proven it can get results. One of our many successes in this area of law includes when the attorneys at Hart Powell, S.C. were able to get fraud charges dismissed for a Wisconsin CEO accused of bank fraud. Our attorneys have a glowing track record of successfully handling complex criminal defense cases.
- Our Award-Winning Team: Michael F. Hart is a Wisconsin SuperLawyer and National Criminal Defense Association of Defense Lawyers member. Craig Powell was listed on a Top 100 Trial Lawyers list by the National Trial Lawyers and a “Rising Star” for his criminal defense work in Milwaukee Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine.
Types of Fraud Cases We Handle
Each of our Milwaukee fraud defense lawyers believes in the right of our clients to defend themselves against false charges of fraud. Our attorneys have experience dealing with several different types of fraud accusations, including but not limited to:
Internet fraud
Hart Powell, S.C. handles various Internet fraud cases, such as auction fraud, identity theft, investment, and credit card fraud. Though the Internet is vast, our attorneys are skilled at uncovering the truth and aggressively representing those accused of fraud.
Embezzlement
Financial crimes like embezzlement can take many forms. Our firm commonly sees clients accused of employee theft from cash tills and sourcing funds from spouses’, parents’, or corporate accounts.
Insurance fraud
Being charged with insurance fraud can leave you with costly fines and could result in prison time. An attorney will be able to develop the most convincing and well-constructed defense for your insurance fraud case.
Accounting fraud
Misrepresenting the financial status of a company or corporation is illegal. Our firm can help reduce your sentence or lower the fines you must pay.
Mortgage fraud
Real estate industry mortgage fraud can include loan fraud, false appraisals, and deliberately inflating the value of a property.
Tax fraud
Tax fraud may be accidental because people commonly make mistakes when reporting their financial status to the government. The consequences of tax fraud charges can seriously alter your quality of life and affect your relationships, which is why you need our help.
A successful criminal defense attorney from Hart Powell, S.C. can lessen the burden of the fraud accusations you face. No matter the charges, our attorneys believe everyone has the right to experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable legal representation when accused of a crime.
Fraud Facts and Statistics
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ 2020 Report revealed that businesses worldwide lose an average of 5 percent of gross revenue to fraud each year. This is a staggering percentage considering that many businesses are quite small. Five percent can be a significant dollar amount for a company that hasn’t experienced much growth.
The report also says certain fraud risks are more significant among small businesses than large corporations. These include billing and payroll fraud (twice as high) and check and payment tampering fraud (four times as high). The report states that a lack of internal controls contributes to nearly one in three fraud cases globally.
The Insurance Information Institute reports that in 2022, the FBI received 800,944 cybercrime complaints. Most cybercrime victims were from California, Florida, and Texas.
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer Sentinel Network also received more than 5.1 million reports in 2022. Of those reports, 46 percent were for fraud, and 21 percent were for identity theft.
Victims of fraud experience several types of identity theft. In 2022, the most common types were credit card fraud (43.7 percent), bank fraud (11.8 percent), tax fraud (8.4 percent), and business fraud (8.1 percent). Other types of miscellaneous identity theft accounted for the rest (28.1 percent).
In 2022, Wisconsin ranked 35th of all states in the country for the number of identity theft complaints, with 8,319 complaints in a single year (143 per 100,000 residents).
Contact Our State Fraud Defense Lawyers
The Milwaukee criminal defense lawyers of Hart Powell, S.C. have grown up and settled their families in Wisconsin. We understand that the people of this state are hardworking and honest individuals. When a severe charge like state fraud impacts your life and you’re uncertain of your future, we know the worry and suffering you may experience and want to help.
That is why our attorneys have worked non-stop for more than 25 years to ensure that our clients get the verdicts they deserve. Our Wisconsin fraud defense attorneys of Hart Powell, S.C. fight aggressively to defend our clients against these damaging fraud accusations.
To speak with an attorney about your legal rights and options, contact our offices today at (414) 271-9595, fill out our email form, or chat live with us on our site.