There are different types of fraud crimes recognized in the state of New Jersey, whether it be credit card fraud, embezzlement, forgery, mail fraud, tax fraud, or otherwise. But what all of these fraud crimes have in common is that they come with serious consequences. Read on to discover what the penalties for fraud are and how a seasoned Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can help you come up with possible defenses.
What are the penalties for fraud in the state of New Jersey?
A fraud crime may fall into one of two categories: a third-degree indictable offense or a fourth-degree indictable offense. Notably, the state of New Jersey uses the term “indictable offense” to describe a serious crime rather than the term “felony.” With that being said, below are the possible penalties for fraud offenses in New Jersey:
- A third-degree indictable offense: this is if the value of the property obtained is valued at more than $500. This may come with a jail sentence of anywhere between three to five years, if not a court-ordered diversionary program or court-ordered probation. What’s more, this may come with a fine of up to $15,000.
- A fourth-degree indictable offense: this is if the value of the property obtained is valued at anywhere between $200 to $500. This may come with a jail sentence of up to 18 months, if not a court-ordered diversionary program or court-ordered probation. What’s more, this may come with a fine of up to $10,000.
What are the possible defenses for a fraud accusation?
Rest assured, you may be able to build a defense strategy for the fraud accusations placed against you. Such a defense may be enough to avoid a conviction altogether. To reiterate, the potential defense you may take is contingent on the type of fraud crime you are being accused of. Nonetheless, examples of possible defenses are as follows:
- You may be able to defend that you were authorized to access or use someone else’s money or property.
- You may be able to defend that you had a lack of intent to defraud someone else.
- You may be able to defend that you were incorrectly identified by a law enforcement officer at the time of your arrest.
- You may be able to defend that you were unconstitutionally searched or seized by a law enforcement officer at the time of your arrest.
At the end of the day, you cannot take these accusations lightly. It is all the more important that you do not enter your criminal proceedings while representing yourself. So, before it is too late, you must retain the services of a competent Morristown criminal defense lawyer. We are ready and willing to take on your case.
