Hampton Roads Fraud Penalties 

Hampton Roads fraud penalties can be severe. Fraud is considered a class six felony, meaning they are punishable by up to five years in prison. Forging a public record, which is considered fraud, is punishable up to 10 years. There are some cases of fraud that can see up to 20 years in prison. The majority of charges are in a class six felony. These consequences are harsh, and a person should contact a seasoned fraud attorney immediately if they think they will face fraud charges.

If you have been charged with a fraud offense, reach out to an experienced attorney to learn about the Hampton Roads fraud penalties.

What is the Likelihood of a Plea Deal?

Although it depends on the scope of the fraud, plea deals are likely in a Hampton Roads fraud case. If there were hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen, the prosecutor may be less likely to make any deal. There will be certain cases where arrangements are worked out between all parties so that the individual gets what they want and everyone is spared from going through a trial. Mitigation of Hampton Roads fraud penalties in this way can occur.

Circumstances of Plea Deals

The circumstances of a plea deal depend on what the fraud was and who the individual was. Prosecutors are not required to get approval before entering plea deals from the other party, however, that is something they take into consideration. If it is a situation where the other party wants their money back, they will be likely to sign off on a plea deal.

Corporations that are involved in fraud cases tend to be fine with resolving the deal. This way, they do not have to go to court and send somebody to testify. While there are cases where the people involved are very difficult, upset, and are less likely to plead out, more often than not prosecutors are willing to offer plea deals when big businesses are involved. Plea deals can make Hampton Road fraud penalties less severe.

Penalties for Fraud

The penalties for fraud in Hampton Roads depends on the type of fraud. For example, impersonating a law enforcement officer is a misdemeanor, so it is punishable by up to 12 months in jail. The majority of fraud cases can be punishable by zero to five years in prison. Most are class six felonies. Other fraud charges are from zero to 10 years in prison.

Immediate Consequences

The immediate consequences of a Hampton Road fraud penalty is a felony conviction. There are some misdemeanors, but most of them are felonies and will likely cause a person to lose their job. If a person is a felon, they are required by the law to provide a DNA sample. If convicted of a felony, they must provide a DNA sample to the Virginia justice system.

Long-Term Consequences

Long-term consequences of Hampton Road fraud penalties include disclosing a fraud conviction to future employers and other entities. Fraud charges are considered crimes of moral turpitude, which is lying, cheating, and stealing. A person convicted would have to tell anyone who wanted to hire them that they committed a crime of moral turpitude if they ask about it.

They have to admit to it if they ever try to testify in a criminal matter or testify in front of a judge later. If they ask if they have ever been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, they have to say yes and that can cause the judge or a jury to not believe them.

Contacting a Hampton Roads Fraud Lawyer

The first step in trying to avoid Hampton Road fraud penalties is to contact a skilled lawyer. A Hampton Roads fraud lawyer will diligently work on a person’s behalf to try to mitigate, reduce, or drop charges against them, depending on the situation. Call today.