Get the Advice and Representation You Need from an Experienced Shreveport Mail Fraud Attorney
Mail fraud is a serious federal offense. Mail fraud convictions could carry hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and decades of prison time, and having a federal conviction on your record can impact nearly all aspects of your personal and professional lives. This makes it critical to have an experienced Shreveport mail fraud attorney on your side.
Lee Harville is a Shreveport mail fraud attorney who has decades of experience fighting to help his clients avoid unnecessary consequences. Whether you are under investigation for mail fraud or you have already been charged, Lee can use his experience to protect you. In many cases, individuals facing mail fraud charges also face other federal charges, and Lee has experience defending clients against a wide range of other federal white collar criminal offenses.
Understanding the Breadth of the Federal Mail Fraud Statute
The federal mail fraud statute is extremely broad. Under 18 U.S.C. Section 1341, it is a federal offense to use the mail system or a private delivery service (i.e., UPS or FedEx) in furtherance of a plan to commit fraud. The statutory language states:
“Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud . . . for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice or attempting so to do, places in any post office or authorized depository for mail matter . . . or deposits or causes to be deposited any matter or thing whatever to be sent or delivered by any private or commercial interstate carrier, or takes or receives therefrom, any such matter or thing . . . shall be [guilty of mail fraud].”
In light of the breadth of this language, prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Louisiana can pursue charges in an extremely wide range of circumstances. Essentially, any use of the mail or a private delivery service in connection with the commission (or attempted commission) of another fraud crime can warrant a conviction. Under Section 1341, mail fraud convictions carry up to a $250,000 fine and 20 years of prison time in most cases; however, in cases involving bank fraud, the maximum penalties increase to a $1 million fine and 30 years behind bars.
Mail Fraud Charges Often Come with Other Federal Charges As Well
Due to the nature of the federal bank fraud statute, individuals who are facing prosecution under Section 1341 may also be at risk of facing other serious federal charges. For example, mail fraud may be prosecuted alongside other federal crimes, such as:
- Bank fraud
- Bankruptcy fraud
- Healthcare fraud
- Tax fraud
- Fraud under federal programs
These federal crimes also carry steep penalties. If you are facing mail fraud allegations, it will be critical to ensure that you understand the full scope of the government’s investigation. To avoid unnecessary consequences, you will need to be prepared to effectively defend against all of the government’s allegations against you.
Why It’s Important to Hire an Experienced Federal Defense Attorney When Facing Mail Fraud Allegations
With substantial fines and decades of prison time on the line, if you are under investigation or facing charges for mail fraud in Louisiana, you need experienced defense counsel. Here are just some of the ways that experienced Shreveport mail fraud attorney Lee Harville can help:
- Understanding the Scope of the Government’s Case – Lee can work quickly to grasp the scope of the government’s case. Once he has a clear and comprehensive picture of the risks you are facing, then he can get to work building your defense.
- Understanding Your Defense Options – Lee can help you understand your defense options based on the circumstances at hand. Defense options in federal cases can range from targeting a pre-charge or pre-trial resolution to asserting your constitutional rights in court.
- Executing a Proactive and Strategic Defense – Once you decide how to proceed, Lee will execute a proactive and strategic defense. Relying on his decades of experience, he will work to protect your finances and your freedom by all means available.
FAQs: Defending Against Mail Fraud Allegations in Louisiana
Is mail fraud always a federal crime?
No, mail fraud is not always a federal crime. State prosecutors in Louisiana can pursue charges related to various mail-related offenses as well. However, mail fraud is frequently prosecuted at the federal level, and, as noted above, federal mail fraud charges carry substantial penalties. If you are unsure whether your case is being handled at the state or federal level, Shreveport mail fraud attorney Lee Harville can help.
Who investigates mail fraud crimes in Shreveport?
Federal mail fraud investigations frequently involve agents from the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These are high-stakes investigations, and if you are under investigation for mail fraud, it is imperative that you do everything you can to prevent the investigation from leading to an indictment.
Can a “good faith” defense work in a mail fraud case?
Yes, “good faith” is a defense to federal mail fraud charges under 18 U.S.C. Section 1341. To secure a mail fraud conviction, federal prosecutors must be able to prove that you acted, “having devised or intending to devise [a] scheme or artifice to defraud.” As a result, if you had no intention of committing fraud, then you should not be at risk of facing a federal mail fraud conviction.
With that said, successfully asserting a “good faith” defense can be challenging, and federal prosecutors can use several forms of evidence to prove a defendant’s intent. As a result, regardless of the circumstances of your case, it will be important to have an experienced Shreveport mail fraud attorney on your side.
Schedule a Call with Shreveport Mail Fraud Attorney Lee Harville
Do you need to speak with an experienced Shreveport mail fraud attorney? If so, contact us today. Call 318-222-1700 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation as soon as possible.