Experienced Law Firm Defending Charges of Mail Fraud in Jacksonville, FL

Florida white-collar crime lawyers handling federal criminal charges

Mail fraud is any scheme that uses the U.S. Postal Service to transmit money or valuables for fraudulent purposes. Even though many schemes begin on the Internet, the law classifies them as mail fraud if any part of the fraudulent transaction makes use of the mail system.

The elements of mail fraud

According to the Congressional Research Service, the government must prove the following elements to obtain conviction under federal criminal law:

• The use of mail or wire communications
• A scheme to defraud
• The use of material deception
• Intent to deprive someone of either property or honest services

Types of mail fraud

Like most Jacksonville white-collar crimes, there are many types of mail fraud, typically governed by federal laws, including the following:

• Misrepresentation of mail-order merchandise: Even if an online order initiated the sale of merchandise, if the seller fraudulently misrepresents the goods to achieve the sale and sends them through the mail, the seller may face charges of mail fraud.
• Impersonation: A typical example may be a letter or email message from a person pretending to be someone else in an attempt to convince a victim to mail money.
• Get-rich-quick schemes: There are many forms of this type of mail fraud. Examples include pyramid schemes that require a victim to send money to a number of individuals or the sale of useless materials that purportedly provide step-by-step instructions for getting rich.

Anywhere in the United States, including Jacksonville, white-collar crime law pertaining to mail fraud falls under the jurisdiction of U.S. federal law, and prosecution can be intense. However it is not uncommon for individuals or businesses to face charges of mail fraud when they have committed no crime.

For example, a company may ship many boxes of mail-order merchandise in good faith, but faulty shipping containers cause damage to the merchandise. This could represent a case of liability for the  container manufacturer rather than the business charged with mail fraud. This is why it is so important to retain an experienced Jacksonville white-collar criminal lawyer who knows how to investigate the charges the moment you suspect that you may face investigation or charges for mail fraud.

Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A. has extensive experience in federal and state criminal cases, along with years of federal prosecutor experience. We understand the intricate investigation strategies used by federal agencies to indict and attempt to convict individuals accused of white-collar crime.

Contact a Jacksonville mail fraud attorney with extensive experience defending federal charges

Contact us online or call the offices of Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A. today at 904-353-5800 to schedule a consultation at no cost or obligation to discuss your mail fraud case.