Charged with Fraud in Los Angeles?

Fraud prosecutions in Los Angeles cover a wide range of alleged conduct, from individual misrepresentations to large-scale organized schemes. Our firm defends clients against all of the following:

Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)

Wire fraud is one of the most commonly charged federal offenses in Los Angeles. It covers any scheme to defraud that uses electronic communications, including phone calls, emails, text messages, internet transactions, and wire transfers. Each communication in furtherance of the alleged scheme is a separate count, meaning total sentencing exposure in wire fraud cases can reach decades. Each count carries up to 20 years in federal prison. Our fraud attorney scrutinizes every alleged communication in the government’s indictment and challenges the prosecution’s characterization of ordinary business communications as fraudulent.

Mail Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341)

Mail fraud parallels wire fraud and covers schemes to defraud that use the U.S. mail or private couriers. It carries up to 20 years in federal prison per count. Mail fraud charges are frequently added to wire fraud counts in the same indictment, compounding total sentencing exposure. Our firm challenges both the existence of the alleged scheme and the government’s evidence that the mail was used in furtherance of it.

Bank Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344)

Bank fraud involves executing or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud a financial institution or to obtain money, funds, or property from a financial institution by means of false pretenses. It carries up to 30 years in federal prison and fines up to $1 million per count. Bank fraud charges arise in the context of mortgage fraud, loan fraud, check kiting, and account takeover schemes. Our fraud attorney challenges the government’s evidence of the scheme and the defendant’s knowledge of the fraudulent nature of the transactions.

Mortgage Fraud

Mortgage fraud involves misrepresentations made in connection with a mortgage loan application, including inflated appraisals, false income statements, undisclosed liabilities, and straw buyer schemes. It is prosecuted under both bank fraud and wire fraud statutes at the federal level, and under California Penal Code § 532f at the state level. Mortgage fraud investigations frequently target real estate professionals, loan officers, appraisers, and title company employees. Our firm defends mortgage fraud charges by challenging the government’s evidence of knowing participation in the alleged scheme.

Insurance Fraud (Penal Code § 550 / § 551)

Insurance fraud encompasses a broad range of conduct including filing false claims, staging accidents, submitting inflated repair estimates, and billing for services not rendered. California insurance fraud is a wobbler offense for most first-time offenders, with felony convictions carrying 2, 3, or 5 years in state prison. Our fraud attorney defends insurance fraud charges at the state level and coordinates defense of parallel civil proceedings brought by insurance carriers.

Healthcare Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1347)

Healthcare fraud involving Medicare, Medi-Cal, and private insurers is prosecuted aggressively in Los Angeles. Federal healthcare fraud carries up to 10 years per count, and up to 20 years if serious bodily injury results from the fraud. Common allegations include billing for services not rendered, upcoding, unbundling, kickback arrangements, and medically unnecessary procedures. Our fraud attorney defends healthcare providers, billing companies, and medical businesses through rigorous analysis of billing records, coding practices, and medical necessity documentation.

Securities Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1348 / 15 U.S.C. § 78j)

Securities fraud covers a range of conduct including insider trading, Ponzi schemes, investment fraud, and manipulation of publicly traded securities. Federal securities fraud carries up to 20 years per count. SEC and FBI investigations of securities fraud are thorough and methodical, and the indictments that result are typically built on extensive trading records, communications, and cooperating witness testimony. Our fraud attorney defends securities fraud charges through meticulous analysis of trading records and a direct challenge to the government’s evidence of materiality, scienter, and reliance.

Tax Fraud (26 U.S.C. § 7201 / § 7206)

Federal tax evasion carries up to 5 years per count, and filing a false tax return carries up to 3 years per count. IRS Criminal Investigation conducts some of the most methodical and comprehensive investigations in federal law enforcement. Tax fraud cases are frequently discovered through civil audits that are later referred for criminal prosecution. Our firm defends tax fraud cases through independent forensic accounting analysis, challenges to the government’s revenue calculations, and negotiation with the IRS at the civil and criminal level.

Real Estate Fraud (Penal Code § 532f)

Real estate fraud encompasses a broad range of conduct including title fraud, foreclosure rescue fraud, rental fraud, and fraudulent real estate investment schemes. California real estate fraud carries up to 3 years in state prison for a felony conviction, with additional civil liability to victims. Our fraud attorney defends real estate fraud charges through thorough review of all transactional documents and a direct challenge to the prosecution’s evidence of intent to defraud.

Credit Card and Check Fraud (Penal Code § 484e / § 476)

Credit card fraud encompasses the unauthorized use of another person’s credit card information, fraudulent application for credit, and trafficking in stolen credit card data. Check fraud involves issuing fraudulent checks with knowledge of insufficient funds or with no intention to honor the check. Both are wobbler offenses in California. Our fraud attorney defends these charges by challenging the prosecution’s evidence of knowledge and intent.

Grand Theft by False Pretenses (Penal Code § 487 / § 532)

Obtaining money or property through false representations is charged as grand theft by false pretenses under California law when the value exceeds $950. It is a wobbler offense with felony penalties of 16 months, 2, or 3 years in state prison. Our fraud attorney challenges the prosecution’s evidence of the misrepresentation, the alleged victim’s reliance on it, and the defendant’s intent.