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Columbus Fraud Attorneys

Charged with Fraud in Ohio? Call LHA Right Away. Free Consults: (614) 500-3836.

A number of offenses fall under the fraud umbrella. These charges are often dealt with swiftly and severely. Having the right team of Columbus fraud attorneys by your side can make the difference in your case.

Below are a list of fraud related offenses and the legal requirements to be charged with them:

Misuse of credit cards
To be charged with misuse of credit cards, you must have done any of the following:

  • Used deception to get a credit card issued to you when it’s reliant on your credentials
  • Knowingly bought a credit card from or sold it to a person other than whoever issued it
  • In order to commit fraud, obtained control over a credit card as collateral for a debt
  • In order to commit fraud, obtained property or services using a credit card when you knew it was expired, revoked or used in violation of the law
  • In order to commit fraud, gave property or services to someone who presented a credit card that you knew was being used unlawfully
  • In order to commit fraud, let a credit card issuer believe that you gave property or services in exchange for credit card payment, when you didn’t
  • Intending to do any of the above, received, possessed, controlled or disposed of a credit card
Identity theft
To be charged with identity theft, you must have used, obtained or possessed any personal identifying information of another person without the other person’s express or implied consent, and with the intent of doing either of the following:

  • Acting as if you are that person
  • Using that person’s personal information as your own

You may also be charged if you do any of the following:

  • Create, obtain, possess or use someone else’s personal identifying information to help someone else do any of the above
  • With the intent to commit fraud, let someone else use your personal identifying information
  • If you were the person who was permitted to use it, it’s also a crime if you use it in an attempt to defraud others
Workers' compensation fraud
To be charged with workers’ compensation fraud, you must have done any of the following with the intent to defraud or knowing that you’re enabling fraud:

  • Received workers’ compensation benefits when you’re not entitled to them
  • Made any kind of false or misleading statement, or had one made, in order to receive workers’ compensation payment or benefits
  • Tampered with documents used to validate your workers’ compensation claim
  • Entered into an agreement or larger effort to defraud the bureau or a self-insuring employer by making a false claim or causing one to be made
  • Made or caused to be made a false statement concerning your employees when that information is used to calculate your payment owed to the bureau for their coverage
  • Altered, forged or created a workers’ compensation certificate to falsely show coverage
  • Failed to get or maintain workers’ compensation coverage for your employees with the intent to defraud the bureau of workers’ compensation

Every day in central Ohio people are charged with fraud related offenses. Fraud related charges can range from a fifth degree felony, punishable by up to one year in prison to a first degree felony, punishable by 3-11 years in prison.

If you are convicted of a fraud related offense, additional potential issues include:

  • Maintaining your current employment
  • Licensure issues in some professions
  • Difficulty getting a good job in the future
  • Difficulty and possible denial in immigration and naturalization proceedings

Simply put, if you are convicted of a fraud related offense, you run the risk of being deemed untrustworthy for the rest of your life. Therefore, it is critical that you to give your fraud related charge the level of importance it deserves.

The Columbus fraud attorneys with LHA team will figure out what mistakes the police or detectives made and what legal issues can be raised on your behalf.

We do this by requesting discovery from the prosecutor. The discovery will generally consist of police reports, additional investigative notes, video surveillance and recorded interviews. As our client, you will receive a copy of everything received from the prosecutor for your review.

Based on the legal weaknesses in the State of Ohio’s case and any other mitigating factors, we will negotiate the best possible plea available with the prosecutor for you to consider in resolving your case.

If your case cannot be resolved satisfactorily with a plea, it would then proceed to a motion hearing (a hearing where the judge issues a ruling on an evidentiary issue) or a trial to the judge or jury, depending on the circumstances.

The second approach taken by the Columbus fraud attorneys with LHA is to identify whether you have a substance abuse problem. If so and that was a factor in your commission of the fraud related offense, we will try to negotiate your admittance into a treatment program in lieu of prison or potentially a conviction in your case.

For over a decade, the Columbus fraud attorneys with Luftman, Heck and Associates have successfully represented individuals charged with fraud related offenses. That extensive previous experience will enable us to better help you.

In Need of Legal Help? Call the Columbus Fraud Attorneys with LHA Today

If you’ve been charged with either of these offenses, it’s important to know what you’re up against. If you have any questions left unanswered by this page, or if you need a competent, experienced fraud attorney to fight for you in court, please contact us at (614) 500-3836 or via email at advice@columbuscriminalattorney.com.

Penalties

Felony misuse of credit cards

Value of the property or services involved

No property or services involved or they were worth less than $1,000
This is a misdemeanor of the first degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A jail sentence of up to 180 days
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $1,000
$1,000 to $7,499
This is a felony of the fifth degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of six months to one year
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $2,500
$7,500 to $149,999
This is a felony of the fourth degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of six to 18 months
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $5,000
$150,000 or more
This is a felony of the third degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of nine months to three years
  • A fine of $5,000 to $10,000

Felony With an elderly or disabled adult victim

Value of the property, services or debt

Less than $1,000
This is a felony of the fifth degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of six months to one year
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $2,500
$1,000 to $7,499
  • A prison term of six to 18 months
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $5,000
$7,500 to $37,499
This is a felony of the third degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of nine months to three years
  • A fine of $5,000 to $10,000
$37,500 or more
This is a felony of the second degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of two to eight years
  • A fine of $7,500 to $15,000

Identity fraud

Value of the credit, property, services, debt or other legal obligation

Less than $1,000
This is a felony of the fifth degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of six months to one year
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $2,500
$1,000 to $7,499
This is a felony of the fourth degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of six to 18 months
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $5,000
$7,500 to $149,999
This is a felony of the third degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of nine months to three years
  • A fine of $5,000 to $10,000
$150,000 or more
This is a felony of the second degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of two to eight years
  • A fine of $7,500 to $15,000

Identity fraud with an elderly or disabled adult victim

Value of the credit, property, services, debt or other legal obligation

Less than $1,000
This is a felony of the fifth degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of six months to one year
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $2,500
$1,000 to $7,499
This is a felony of the third degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of nine months to three years
  • A fine of $5,000 to $10,000
$7,500 to $149,999
This is a felony of the second degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of two to eight years
  • A fine of $7,500 to $15,000

>

$150,000 or more
This is a felony of the first degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of three to 11 years
  • A fine of $10,000 to $20,000

Workers’ compensation fraud

Value of unpaid premiums and assessments or of goods, services, property or money stolen

Nothing of value unpaid or stolen or it was worth less than $1,000
This is a misdemeanor of the first degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A jail sentence of up to 180 days
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $1,000
$1,000 to $7,499
This is a felony of the fifth degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of six months to one year
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $2,500
$7,500 to $149,999
This is a felony of the fourth degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of six to 18 months
    • In its place, your judge may sentence you to probation or other community control punishments
  • At most, a fine of $5,000
$150,000 or more
This is a felony of the third degree and carries the following penalties:

  • A prison term of nine months to three years
  • A fine of $5,000 to $10,000

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I was acting as the person's legal guardian or conservator, or what if I was a trustee or fiduciary?
These are all valid defenses to identity fraud only. If you are in one of these circumstances, you should contact an experienced Ohio criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible to weigh your options.
What if the person was dead when the offense was committed?
The law does not consider this a valid defense for identity fraud. If you are in this circumstance, though, you should consult with an experienced Ohio criminal defense lawyer to see whether penalty reductions are still possible.

Resources

For over a decade, the Columbus criminal defense attorneys at LHA have successfully represented clients on criminal offenses ranging from minor misdemeanors to first degree felonies. That extensive previous experience will enable us to better help you.

Talk to a Columbus Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you have any questions about the material or if you need an experienced, competent attorney, call the Columbus criminal defense attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates at (614) 500-3836.

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