Texas Federal Wire Fraud Attorney

Legal Defense for Clients facing Wire Fraud Charges in Texas and throughout the US

Fraud is a serious criminal offense that can carry severe penalties and long-term consequences. While state-level charges for fraud may apply in certain cases, an offense may be prosecuted at the federal level due to the nature of the alleged crime or the location of the alleged victims. In Texas, federal wire fraud charges may apply in situations where someone is accused of using electronic communication to commit an act of fraud or deceit against another person or business. A person who has been charged with this type of offense will need to ensure that they are represented by an attorney who understands the applicable laws and has experience handling cases in federal courts.

If you have been accused of wire fraud in Texas, The Crowder Law Firm, P.C. can provide you with the representation you need. With our experience representing clients in federal criminal cases, we can help you build a strong defense strategy. We will advise you on how to proceed during an investigation by federal officials or agencies and how to respond to prosecutors, and we will advocate on your behalf during legal proceedings and fight for the best possible outcome in your case.

Federal Charges for Wire Fraud in Texas

Fraud involves the use of deception to gain something of value from another person. When these actions are committed using messages that are transmitted electronically, an offense may be considered to be wire fraud. Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1343) federal wire fraud charges may apply if schemes or attempts to defraud others were committed using information transmitted via wired communications, radio, or television, as long as the offense involved interstate or foreign commerce. That is, if fraud involved messages that were transmitted from one state to another or from the United States to another country, or if people in multiple states or countries were affected, a person may be charged with a federal crime.

Examples of activities that could lead to federal wire fraud charges include:

• Using social media, text messages, emails, or other electronic communications to facilitate scams, such as by sending messages that appear to be from a government organization or financial institution with the purpose of obtaining bank account numbers, passwords for online accounts, or people's identifying information.
• Contacting people through phone calls or email and claiming they have won a contest, then requiring them to pay fraudulent processing fees.
• Setting up phony websites that appear legitimate in order to solicit payments and steal credit card or bank account numbers.
• Using information obtained through identity theft to defraud a financial institution, such as by making online purchases using credit cards opened in someone else's name.
• Creating a website for a non-existing charity or advertising a fake charity on radio or TV and soliciting donations from the general public.
• Sending emails or text messages while impersonating someone else in order to convince their family members to give them money.
• Disseminating fraudulent investment advice over the internet to convince people to invest in a company or turn over financial information.

A person who is convicted of wire fraud at the federal level may be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and fined up to $250,000. If fraud involved a bank or financial institution, or if it was related to federal benefits for disasters or emergencies, a person may be sentenced to up to 30 years and fined up to $1 million.

Contact Our Texas Federal Wire Fraud Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with fraud, federal prosecutors will need to demonstrate that you engaged in a scheme in which you intended to defraud others. At The Crowder Law Firm, P.C., we can help you challenge these accusations and defend against federal fraud charges. To learn more about how we can help you build an effective defense strategy, contact us at 214-544-0061 and set up a free consultation.