New Jersey Wire and Mail Fraud Lawyers

Aggressive Criminal Defense Lawyers Advocate for Clients Accused of Mail and Wire Fraud in Essex County, Union County, Morris County, Middlesex County, Bergen County and Somerset County, NJ

Any crime that is committed using the U.S. mail, private mail carrier or some form of electronic communication can result in charges of mail and wire fraud. Mail and wire fraud, while considered to be a white collar crime, carries significant penalties in and of itself and is often prosecuted at the federal level. However, mail and wire fraud charges often accompany other, more specific, charges that you committed some underlying offense via mail or wire. This means that you will face additional penalties and lengthy prison sentences if convicted of both mail and wire fraud and an underlying crime, such as bank fraud, healthcare fraud, internet crimes, securities fraud or identity theft. In other cases, mail and wire fraud charges may be added in order to secure federal jurisdiction over your case.

At Zegas Law, our experienced Union County mail and wire fraud defense lawyers are committed to exploring all potential case strategies and defense options in your case. Early legal intervention is important in cases involving fraud and, in some cases, can result in you not being charged or having the charges dropped depending upon the circumstances of your unique case. We have a proven track record of providing the highest quality legal representation possible both in federal and New Jersey state courts, and we have significant knowledge of the legal system necessary to mount an effective defense in these complicated cases.

Elements of Mail and Wire Fraud Charges in Northern New Jersey

In order to convict on mail fraud charges, the prosecution must show:

The defendant used some type of scheme intended to defraud others, whether to obtain money, property or services via misrepresentations and false statements, and
The mail was used to carry out that scheme, whether the U.S. mail or a private mail carrier, and whether the mail was used to send or receive materials used in executing the fraud

Wire fraud is criminal fraudulent activity that takes place over the “wires”, which can include the Internet, email, phones, television or even the radio. In wire fraud cases, it may be necessary for the prosecution to show that you reasonably knew that the wires would be used to accomplish the fraudulent scheme and that wire communications were, in fact, used.

If convicted for mail and wire fraud, you will almost always face significant penalties, including:

Up to 20 years in prison (up to 30 years in prison if a financial institution was the victim),
Forfeiture of assets
Restitution to the victims
Monetary fines (typically, up to $250,000 in fines, increasing to up to $1 million if a financial institution was the victim)

Skilled Defense Lawyers Help Clients Understand Their Legal Rights For Mail and Wire Fraud Cases

The federal statute governing mail and wire fraud is one of the more ambiguous statutes that prosecutions may draw on in order to impose much more severe penalties than would otherwise apply given the circumstances at hand. In some cases, these enhanced charges may not be justified given the facts of your case and our skilled mail and wire fraud defense lawyers will conduct a comprehensive case evaluation to determine whether the prosecution has sufficient evidence to proceed.

At Zegas Law, we have dedicated extensive time and resources to building a strong, full-service white collar criminal defense practice, so you can count on us to leave no stone unturned in handling every aspect of your mail and wire fraud charges along with all additional charges that have been levied against you.

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Establishing that you committed mail and wire fraud beyond a reasonable doubt usually requires the prosecution to engage in a detailed investigation to gather sufficient evidence before charging you with the crime. Because of this, it is important to contact our experienced lawyers if you have learned that you are under investigation for committing mail and wire fraud in Northern New Jersey even if you have not been formally indicted—and even if you believe that the prosecution will not be able to establish a case against you.

At Zegas Law, we have been successfully defending clients accused of mail and wire fraud for decades and we understand how the prosecution works in these cases. We are here to ensure that your legal rights are protected and to explore every possible case strategy to achieve the most favorable outcome possible. To explore your defense options, you can call our office or fill out this online contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wire and Mail Fraud

FAQ: What are some examples of mail and wire fraud?

While mail and wire fraud charges can be added to virtually any other type of fraud charge because of the modern-day prevalence of the internet, some more specific examples of mail or wire fraud may include making phone calls designed to obtain the personal information of the call recipient on false pretenses and for personal gain, sending mail that appears to be from a government agency, engaging in vacation scams offering low-cost rentals that do not exist, soliciting charitable donations on behalf of non-existent charities, and more.

FAQ: The prosecution must prove that I engaged in a scheme to defraud to convict me of mail and wire fraud charges, but what does that mean?

The “scheme to defraud” element is interpreted in an extremely broad manner and can encompass almost any plan to obtain money, property or services by misrepresenting the facts, lying, providing false information or even omitting material facts. Because the mail and wire fraud statute is so broadly drafted, and equally broadly interpreted by the courts, it is especially important to get the advice of a skilled defense lawyer even if you believe the “scheme” that you are accused of being involved with was not serious enough to warrant prosecution.

Fearless
“Alan Zegas represented me in a high-profile criminal case. He has a brilliant mind, with strong institutional knowledge and an extraordinary command of the law. He was detail oriented, an enormously strategic thinker, fearless, compassionate, personally accessible on a 24/7 basis, and was all in for me. He was always well prepared and often could see things that others did not. Most importantly, he provided an honest and straightforward assessment of the facts. Alan acted entirely in my best interest, without regard to running up billable hours or moving my case into an unwinnable position. He was always kind, but never hesitant to be blunt and forthcoming. He exuded competence and professionalism at every moment throughout the process.”
Extremely Thorough
“Alan is a master of the art of law, is extremely thorough and meticulous to every detail. He speaks softly but carries a big stick. It is obvious that he is given a great deal of respect in the court room. I knew I was in the best of hands from the get go. For such matters, you need the very best. Alan earned my complete trust. There are a great deal of firms out there with many partners, and associates. Alan is a solo guy, so you know your case is getting his personal attention. As an example, he was always accessible by phone or text. I am grateful for everything he did for me.”

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