Facing Fraud Or Forgery Charges In Mississippi? Protect Your Future Today.
Forgery or fraud charges in Mississippi put your future on the line; you could be facing substantial prison time and costly fines. We are criminal defense attorneys at Sumrall & Welch, PLLC, who aggressively challenge these accusations. We are ready to step in and contest the prosecution’s case at every turn.
Many financial crimes cross state lines, elevating them to federal offenses investigated by agencies like the FBI. Whether your case is handled at the state or federal level, we possess the deep resources and 70 years of combined legal experience required to dissect the evidence against you, manage high-stakes negotiations and build a customized courtroom strategy.
Penalties For Forgery And Fraud
Do not underestimate the severity of these charges. Under both state and federal guidelines, a conviction can carry severe penalties, including maximum prison terms of up to 20 years.
In Mississippi, if the sum of money illegally obtained through forgery is worth less than $1,000, then the crime is a misdemeanor and the penalty can be up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
If the value of the money obtained illegally is more than $1,000, then the crime is a felony resulting in jail sentences of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
There are different penalties for different types of fraud. For credit card fraud, if the sum illegally obtained is less than $100, then it is a misdemeanor and the penalty is up to one year in jail and a fine of $1,000. For sums fraudulently obtained above $100, the penalty is up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
The penalties are higher if there’s an attempt to defraud the state or federal government.
What Are Forgery And Fraud?
Fraud and forgery involve illegally stealing money and usually using deception. They differ from blue collar crimes, such as armed robbery or burglary, in that they usually do not involve the threat or use of physical force but rather rely on obtaining money illegally through financial transactions. Forgery is a particular type of fraud. It is the process of making, adapting or imitating objects, statistics or documents with the intent to deceive. The forgery can include the sale of counterfeit goods or the use of forged trademarks of legitimate businesses.
The types of fraud are very widespread. They include:
- Financial and identity fraud: Credit card fraud, identity theft, bank fraud and forgery
- Scams and deceptive marketing: Investment fraud, telemarketing fraud and mail fraud
- Government program fraud: Tax fraud, benefit fraud and Medicare/Medicaid fraud
- Tech fraud: Computer fraud, cellphone fraud and wire fraud
- Insurance and healthcare fraud: Insurance fraud and healthcare fraud
Many of the investigations are extremely complex and involve detailed inquiries by federal or state investigators, often lasting many months. Even if you are completely innocent, it can be a very traumatic and drawn-out experience. You do not have to face state or federal investigators alone. As your trial attorneys, we protect your rights, your reputation and your freedom.
In some investigations, it is found that there is no evidence of fraud, but, in the course of the investigation, the accused can be charged with and convicted of providing false information to the investigators. Many public figures have been brought down by a charge of lying to investigators rather than by the original fraud charge.
Do Not Talk To Investigators Until You Talk To Sumrall & Welch, PLLC
With the complexity of these forgery and fraud cases, it is essential that those being investigated receive advice from a trial attorney who is familiar with the law relating to fraud and fraud investigation procedures, whether they are federal or state investigations. A large proportion of the work is going to be done before any case ever gets to trial, and many cases will involve months of investigation.
Call us at 601-533-5551 or send an email for a 100% confidential case evaluation.