Las Vegas Fraud Defense Lawyers

Las Vegas Fraud Defense Attorneys

The term “fraud” applies to a variety of acts in which some kind of deception is perpetrated for a financial or personal gain. In Nevada, a conviction for fraud crimes may be punished by heavy fines and years in prison.

It is important to act quickly in the face of any allegation of fraud or forgery in contracts, insurance, securities, investments, real estate, gaming, etc. The allegation that you have intentionally misrepresented yourself, your intentions, or your product or services to obtain something you do not deserve must be strongly rebutted if you are to avoid potentially severe punishment that irreparably damages your life and/or business.

The knowledgeable Las Vegas fraud defense attorneys of Adras & Altig understand that there are many sides to any story, particularly in business. We apply an open mind to our clients’ situations and provide aggressive advocacy for clients in defending charges of fraud and other allegations of white-collar crime.

It is crucial to contact our respected Las Vegas law firm at the first indications of an indictment or arrest for fraud. Our legal team will move quickly to investigate and develop thoughtful and creative defense strategies to protect you and/or your business. We will explore every avenue available to pursue the best possible outcome in your case.

Our lawyers understand that your life, your business, and potentially your freedom are at stake due to allegations of fraud. Every step we take will be oriented toward saving what’s important to you. Contact us today for a free legal consultation about fraud charges, and get the strong, proactive legal defense you need.

What You Need to Know About Building a Defense Again Fraud Allegations

Criminal cases alleging fraud typically rely on documentation of one or more financial transactions. Prosecutors must demonstrate an intent to defraud and a benefit illegally derived by the defendant. Not all false statements or speculative opinions that prove to be incorrect are fraudulent.

Fraud is a broad concept. There are numerous potential offenses that involve deception in order to get ahead financially. Fraud allegations may involve transactions through the Internet, phone, mail, or by wire.

State and federal authorities may be part of a fraud investigation, such as in bank fraud, workers’ compensation insurance fraud, counterfeiting, medical / health care fraud, etc. Penalties under Nevada law for fraud range from 6 months in jail and a fine for misdemeanor fraud, to 1 to 20 years in prison for repeated instances of felony fraud. Federal penalties are typically more severe.

Your defense against fraud allegations needs to be responsive to the specific charges and your needs. When choosing a legal team, you should know that:

  • Our seasoned attorneys have an in-depth understanding of various instruments of financial transactions, and we will point out lack of evidence, discrepancies, holes, and/or evidence of entrapment in the prosecution’s case.
  • We believe all indictments or charges alleging fraud must be fought vigorously. Whether state or federal, prosecutors are required to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before they can win a conviction. To prove fraud, this means establishing intent and documenting the defendant’s personal gain.
  • Our attorneys will fight misguided prosecution over faulty and false allegations of fraud. Many cases come down to misunderstood events or misconstrued communications. Many times, a defendant can resolve fraud charges by “making things right” once a defense attorney sorts out the facts for them.
  • In cases where wrongdoing has occurred, we work to come to agreements with prosecutors that lessen punishment in exchange for restitution of the plaintiff’s losses and other cooperation. Because a fraud conviction relies heavily on documentation, yet requires proof of the defendant’s intent to commit a crime, prosecutors are typically open to a path forward that avoids court if those who allege harm are satisfied in the end.

Our Las Vegas criminal defense law firm is dedicated to providing a thorough and strong defense to any client who faces charges of fraud or another white-collar crime in Clark County, Nevada. Attorneys Paul Adras and Steve Altig have more than 30 years of combined experience with high-profile criminal defense cases, including alleged fraud and other white-collar crimes. Our respected legal team has made its mark in both state and federal courts through meticulous research and zealous representation of clients.

Understanding the High Stakes in a Business Fraud Case

In some cases, a charge of fraud will threaten a business in addition to the individual(s) named by the prosecutors. Prosecution could make a business entity vulnerable to costly civil litigation brought by alleged fraud victims or by the federal or state government. In some cases, the scandal surrounding what becomes a public fraud investigation, charge, trial, etc., irreparably damages the business, regardless of the court’s final decision.

The potential damage makes it crucial for anyone facing charges of business fraud to engage an experienced legal team that can quickly take over public and private response to the charges and any subsequent prosecution.

As part of our business fraud defense, we can initiate internal investigations of your company to determine the potential for corporate criminal liability. Such an investigation requires knowing and understanding the expectations of prosecutors, and understanding such issues as waiver of privilege and appropriate responses to document production requests.

As we interview and advise company employees, it sometimes becomes necessary to refer individuals who may also be prosecuted to a different criminal defense firm, and possibly to execute joint defense agreements (JDAs). These are time-consuming and costly tasks for a business already distracted by a fraud investigation and/or prosecution. Our experienced legal team can mitigate the costs, as well as the potential legal damage, through expedient work.

By promptly engaging the legal team of Adras & Altig in Las Vegas, it may be possible to conduct an investigation that satisfies prosecutors’ concerns before charges are filed and made public.

Types of Fraud Charges Our Criminal Defense Firm Handles

Once contacted, our team of criminal defense attorneys can work quickly to collect and analyze evidence and prepare a solid defense for you against charges of fraud. There are many potential fraud charges under state and federal law. Some we most commonly assist Las Vegas clients with include:
  • Property fraud (including obtaining property or money by false pretense): Fraudulent appropriation of property, fraudulently issuing title to goods or receiving title to goods, or issuing title to goods not received are each punishable by 1 to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
  • Forgery / credit and debit card fraud: Forgery, including forgery of a credit or debit card and forgery involving computers, is punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Buying or selling a credit or debit card, or credit or debit card account information, is punishable by 1 to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
  • Welfare / food stamp fraud: Food stamp or welfare fraud that involves obtaining benefits valued at $650 or more is punishable by 1 to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
  • Medicaid fraud: Buying or selling a Medicaid card, obtaining Medicaid benefits fraudulently, and Medicaid provider fraud, including sale, purchase, or lease of goods, services, materials, or supplies while acting on behalf of a provider, are each punishable by 1 to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
  • Bad checks / casino marker fraud: Casino markers for debt are treated like checks, and an inability of the recipient to cash or deposit either as issued is considered fraud. Penalties are based on the amount of the marker or check, and they range from up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, to 1 to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
  • Gaming fraud: Altering or misrepresenting the outcome of a game; changing a bet that has been placed and acknowledged; manipulating the outcome of a gaming device; promising anything of value to anyone for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a race, sporting event, contest, or other form of gambling; and additional acts of gaming fraud are each punishable by 1 to 6 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 on a first offense.
  • Insurance fraud / Nevada workers’ compensation fraud: Filing a false claim for insurance benefits, including making false charges, representations, and statements to obtain workers’ compensation benefits worth $650 or more, is punishable by 1 to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
  • Real estate / mortgage fraud: Fraudulent sale of subdivided land or fraudulent sale of the same real property more than once is punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Obtaining a license to sell interest in real property by misrepresentation, fraud, or deceit is punishable by 1 to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Mortgage lending fraud is punishable by 1 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
  • Investment / securities fraud: False or misleading information regarding publicly traded securities is punishable by 1 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Fraudulently issuing stock is punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
  • Bank Fraud: Filing of fraudulent reports by a financial institution, or banking-related embezzlement of $650 or more, is punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
  • Identity theft: In many cases, identity theft is a Category B felony under Nevada law and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine up to $100,000. Identity theft may also be prosecuted in federal court, where an additional sentence of up to 20 years in prison is possible.

In addition, a person convicted of a felony involving fraud who has two prior felonies that include elements of fraud is deemed a habitually fraudulent felon, and a Nevada prosecutor must charge him or her as such. This could bring a sentence of 5 to 20 years in prison, with no opportunity for probation or suspended sentence.

Charges of fraud require a strong legal defense by skilled and dedicated white-collar crime attorneys who know Las Vegas and the courts in Clark County. Our experienced Las Vegas fraud defense lawyers can also defend you against federal charges of fraud, such as identify theft, which typically put you at risk of punishment more severe than provided under state law. Any crime committed on federal property may be prosecuted as a federal crime and tried in federal court in Las Vegas or Reno, Nevada.

Call Now to Talk to Our Las Vegas Fraud Defense Attorneys

If you face charges of fraud in Clark County, Nevada, do not wait to talk to our seasoned Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys about your legal options. The best defense is to act quickly to build a strong, proactive case for your exoneration or to take steps to resolve allegations about business dealings.

Contact our law office in Las Vegas today for a free consultation about how our skilled legal team can help fight fraud charges against you and/or your business.