Formal accusations of any criminal offense can be a frightening and stressful experience for anyone here in Mississippi or across the nation. This can especially be true if you are facing federal charges, where the ramifications in the event of a conviction can be even harsher than those for crimes tried at the state level. Substantial fines of at least six figures and many years — if not decades — in prison are common penalties for those found guilty of violating federal law.
One of the most prevalent federal criminal charges seen these days is wire fraud. If you are facing these accusations, it means that you allegedly used some form of telecommunication to deceive another party for your personal benefit. As technology has continued to evolve over the years, telecommunication now includes any form of text messaging and social media communication along with television, radio, phone, fax, email and more.
Specific types of wire fraud
There are many different wire fraud schemes where another party loses financial funds after manipulation into giving out certain personal information. Some of the most common of these crimes include the following:
- Telemarking scams: These schemes typically involve calling the victims on the telephone and making them believe they are eligible for some type of monetary award or refund.
- Phishing: This type of fraud involves sending out a phony email that looks real to victims. If the email recipient opens it, this can allow the scammer to access personal information, such as passwords, credit card information and certain financial data.
- The Nigerian Prince scam: In these instances, potential victims receive emails from someone who claims to be a Nigerian prince, asking for personal bank account info to transfer millions of dollars out of the prince’s country.
A conviction for just one count of any type of wire fraud can result in fines up to $250,000 and a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Since each time some form of communication took place can equate to a single count, the total amount of penalties in some of these cases can be almost inconceivable.
Federal wire allegations are some of the most serious charges you could ever face. However, you are still entitled to a presumption of innocence until and unless you’re proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. With so much at stake, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of the services from an experienced attorney who can carefully analyze the details of your case, explore all possible legal avenues and determine the best possible criminal defense strategy for trial if necessary.
