Orlando Fraud Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with a fraud crime such as bank fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud, health care fraud, or mail fraud, you may need the help of a fraud attorney in Orlando. Contact the O’Mara Law Group to help you avoid the complicated and sometimes severe penalties associated with fraud crimes.
Written and edited by our team of expert legal content writers and reviewed and approved by Attorney Mark O’Mara
Content last updated on: August 22, 2024
Fraud crimes come in many forms and can target individuals, businesses, and the government as victims.
If you have been accused of fraud, you have constitutional rights to due process that the government and law enforcement must respect. At the O’Mara Law Group, we understand that being charged with fraud can put tremendous stress on you and your loved ones. It is crucial to obtain a fraud defense attorney immediately after being charged. Don’t speak to anyone from the government without an attorney.
Some say that white-collar crimes result in little to no real punishment. However, this is far from the truth in most cases. These crimes frequently have serious penalties. A fraud conviction could leave you with hefty fines and possible prison time. Your life, your reputation, and your freedom are on the line. You need a fraud attorney in Orlando who will work to help you.
Why Work with a Fraud Attorney from the O’Mara Law Group?
Our team of Orlando fraud lawyers at the O’Mara Law Group is committed to quality and competence. We are trained to handle tough cases and ruthless prosecutors.
Mark O’Mara is a former Seminole County prosecutor with nearly four decades of legal experience. He’s certified by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization in criminal law, making him an expert on the key issues you’ll face in your criminal case. He’s well-known for providing tenacious defense in some of the hardest, most controversial cases.
Our attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers and ranked in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Clients have praised our skill, knowledge, and determination in providing a vigorous defense to achieve the best possible outcome for their cases. See our unparalleled client satisfaction testimonials.
We will stand by you every step of the way. Defending a fraud charge can be challenging, but our Orlando fraud attorneys are skilled negotiators with decades of experience. They are trained to do the following:
- Communicate with the government
- Gather all the information
- Examine applicable laws
- Study the evidence
- Pinpoint the best defenses
- Identify and exploit weaknesses in the prosecution’s case
- Discuss plea options
- Defend your case in court
- Appeal your case if necessary
Contact us today to discuss your case.
Types of Fraud Cases We Take
In 2021, Orlando reportedly had an 80 percent increase in fraud crimes. Fraud is the use of criminal deception for monetary gain. Fraud can be as simple as taking someone’s credit card and purchasing a TV with it and as complex as committing asset misappropriation by creating a fake reimbursement scheme or payroll scheme within a company.
Fraud charges may not only end with serious jail or prison time, but they can also result in losing a professional license, heavy fines, and an inability to work in your field ever again. The financial penalties of fraud are far-reaching, and depending on the type of fraud and the amount of property stolen, fraud defendants may also face decades behind bars.
The Orlando fraud defense lawyers of the O’Mara Law Group handle all types of fraud charges.
Tax Fraud (State & Federal)
Tax fraud is a criminal offense under federal and Florida state laws. There are many kinds of tax fraud, though the general definition is purposefully avoiding or attempting to avoid paying taxes.
Different types of tax fraud include the following:
- Refusing to pay taxes owed
- Filing a falsified tax return
- Failing to file a tax return
- Failing to report income on your taxes
- Failure to report information about foreign bank accounts
Tax fraud is an “intent” crime, meaning the prosecution must prove your intent to defraud the federal or state government. Therefore, asserting a lack of intent to defraud is a defense strategy.
If you were charged with tax fraud, contact the O’Mara Law Group. A tax fraud lawyer will be able to assess your case, determine if the facts of the case rise to tax fraud, and analyze applicable defenses.
Corporate Fraud
Corporate fraud can include any fraudulent or deceptive actions against a corporation or business. The falsification of documents to shareholders by management or a business CEO may be considered corporate fraud. Or an employee who oversteps the bounds of the authority to the detriment of the corporation may have committed corporate fraud.
Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud is when a person or corporation applies for reimbursement based on falsified facts or deception. The classic example is someone secretly burning down their house and then applying for reimbursement from the home insurance company.
Our federal insurance fraud attorneys at the O’Mara Law Group will be able to analyze your case, deal with the government, and protect your due process rights. Contact us today.
Investment Fraud
Investment fraud is when people are enticed to invest their finances in certain activities or schemes based on false information.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission identifies these types of investment fraud:
- Affinity fraud, such as elderly fraud
- Advance fee fraud
- Binary options fraud
- High-yield investment programs
- Internet and social media fraud
- Microcap fraud
- Ponzi schemes
- Pre-IPO investment scams
- Pyramid schemes
- "Prime bank" investments
- Promissory notes
- Pump and dump schemes
- Cryptocurrency schemes
Securities Fraud
Securities fraud is a type of investment fraud. It occurs when investors are induced to make decisions on stocks or other securities based on falsified information or data.
Contact the O’Mara Law Group today if you have been charged with securities fraud or other investment fraud.
Wire Fraud
Wire fraud is a crime under both federal and Florida law. The scheme uses wire communication or other electronics to defraud another. Besides wire communications, other electronic communications can include phone, television, radio, email, or text messages.
Health Care Fraud (Medicare)
Health care or Medicare fraud can be committed by numerous parties—health care providers, patients, and billing departments.
The FBI lists common types of health care fraud:
- Double billing: multiple claims for the same service
- Phantom billing: billing for services or supplies that the patient never received
- Forged prescriptions
- Doctor shopping
- Submission of more than one bill for the same service
- Using another’s health insurance
- Permitting another to use your health insurance
- Selling your prescription medicine
Federal health care fraud is a complex area of law. An Orlando fraud lawyer can navigate the law and protect your rights competently.
Mail Fraud
Mail fraud occurs when a person uses the mail system to commit a fraudulent scheme. According to the United States Postal Inspection Service, common types of mail fraud include:
- Fraud against the elderly
- Fraud against veterans
- Sweepstakes and lottery fraud
- Employment fraud
- Telemarketing fraud
- Financial fraud
Federal Fraud
Two common types of fraud involve the federal government—PPP and Social Security.
Payment Protection Program Loan Fraud
The federal government established the Payment Protection Program, or PPP, to help small businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, some companies took advantage of the PPP Loan program and obtained loans even though they were not eligible.
The federal government has ruthlessly investigated these cases, charging certain PPP recipients with fraud.
If the federal government has charged you with PPP fraud, contact the O’Mara Law Group.
Social Security Fraud
Social Security fraud involves deception or misrepresentation of Social Security claims or social security numbers. It can occur in several ways. Common Social Security fraud schemes include:
- False statements on Social Security claims
- Omitting information that affects benefit eligibility
- Continuing to use the benefits of a Social Security beneficiary after their death
- Filing a claim on another’s Social Security number
- Impersonating a Social Security representative to obtain information from people
One is when a person unlawfully claims the social security benefits of another. Another way is if someone provides false information or statements for financial benefit.
Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage fraud involves misrepresenting information, providing false information, or omitting information to acquire a mortgage loan.
A mortgage fraud attorney in Orlando will have the resources to defend your case against the government. Contact the O’Mara Law Group now.
Bank Fraud
Bank fraud is a crime where misleading or false information is provided to a financial institution to obtain money.
The federal government can prosecute individuals for bank fraud under 18 U.S.C §1344. To be convicted of bank fraud, a person must knowingly execute or attempt to execute a plan to defraud a financial institute or a plan to obtain any financial asset under the custody or control of the financial institution by dishonest or fraudulent acts.
Our bank fraud lawyers at the O’Mara Law Group will be able to review your case and assess your options.
Internet Fraud
Internet fraud is a broad catch-all phrase. It concerns cybercrimes or crimes on the internet. This can include hacking or phishing.
For example, a company that advertises goods or services to illicit money but never delivers the goods or services is guilty of internet fraud. Or a charity website soliciting money for victims of a natural disaster or a children’s hospital in an attempt to scam people out of their money is an example of internet fraud.
What Is Fraud in Florida?
Fraud encompasses many different crimes in Florida. Unless the fraud crime involves the U.S. mail system, wire communications or other electronic devices, Medicare, the securities market, social security, or other area controlled by the federal government, the fraud is prosecuted in Florida state courts.
The prosecution must prove the following elements of fraud:
- The defendant knowingly made a false statement.
- The defendant made the false statement intending to deceive another person or persons.
- The false statement was material, or in other words, significant.
- The other person relied on this statement.
- This false statement injured the other person.
Fraud is an intentional crime. That means the prosecution must prove that the defendant intended to deceive another.
Is Fraud a Felony?
Most fraud crimes in Florida are considered felonies of varying degrees depending on the severity. Fraud felonies can be in the first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree. First-degree felonies carry the highest penalties.
Fraud can be a state or federal crime and is a felony in both jurisdictions. Your case will be prosecuted in state courts if the alleged fraudulent act is a state crime. If the alleged fraudulent act is a federal crime, your case will be prosecuted in the federal court system.
Our fraud defense attorneys at the O’Mara Law Group have experience defending cases in Florida state and federal courts. Contact our office now for a free consultation if you have been charged with a fraud crime under either jurisdiction.
How Much Does a Fraud Defense Attorney in Orlando Cost?
The cost of a fraud defense attorney in Orlando can vary. It will depend on experience, the size of the law firm, and the alleged crime.
Newer attorneys tend to charge less, while attorneys with decades of experience will charge more on average. Similarly, smaller boutique law firms are more likely to charge less than large law firms with nationwide locations. A lawyer defending a person charged with a felony will tend to charge more than a lawyer defending a person charged with a misdemeanor.
Call an Orlando Fraud Defense Lawyer Today
Our strong team mentality at the O’Mara Law Group gives us a clear advantage over prosecutors and other criminal defense law firms. Since 1982, we have been winning fraud cases and helping good people in difficult times. Contact O’Mara Law for experienced representation. Contact our Orlando fraud defense lawyers today at 407-413-882 to schedule a free consultation.
“Such a professional and personable firm. Everyone treated me with respect throughout my entire process. I absolutely dread ever needing the services of an attorney again but I would certainly go straight back to Mark. Susan was awesome and she totally got me from day one. I can’t begin to say how helpful that was for me. Thank you to the entire team!!"
Susan Dolan5-star Google Review
“By far, the best person, if you ever need an attorney and someone who will always be there for you. I am truly proud to have Mark as my attorney, advisor and friend. Thanks Mark and Alyssa. Michael Hoffman, Attorney at Law and C.P.A."
Michael Hoffman5-star Google Review
“O’Mara Law Group I would highly recommend Mark O’Mara to anyone seeking legal representation and will keep your best interest at the forefront. Should a situation arise, I would not hesitate to obtain representation from the O’Mara Law Group."
Mike Shwagger5-star Google Review
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