Talking about the importance of a strong defense is one thing — having a record of success to back up the claim is another. Valenzuela Law Firm (VLF) recently secured another winning result in a federal case that involved an indictment for wire fraud. This recent success provides an example of how having an experienced federal fraud lawyer on your side can make an overwhelmingly dire situation much more manageable.
What is wire fraud and how serious are the penalties?
Before we dive into the case, it helps to understand what was at stake. Federal wire fraud is among the most serious white-collar crimes prosecuted in the United States. Conviction can lead to severe penalties under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, including imprisonment and substantial fines.
The government’s approach to prosecuting wire fraud cases is methodical and comprehensive. To build a successful case, prosecutors generally work to establish:
- A scheme to defraud,
- Material false representations,
- Intent to defraud, and
- Use of interstate wire communications.
Each element is crucial for a conviction. Although the prosecution does not need to prove the success of the scheme or actual financial loss, a failure to establish one of the above elements can cripple the prosecution’s case.
How can those indicted for wire fraud build a winning defense?
Defense strategies may include:
- Challenging the evidence of intent
- Disputing the materiality of false statements
- Arguing the absence of a scheme to defraud
A strong defense can mitigate the charges or even result in acquittal. Those who face these charges are wise to seek legal representation with experience in federal wire fraud.
How did VLF secure a favorable outcome for a client?
As noted above, Valenzuela Law Firm recently provided valuable legal counsel to an individual who faced 72 charges for wire fraud in a case before the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. Their client contracted with the Bureau of Prisons to build gas pipelines for correctional institutions in Pennsylvania and Alabama. The prosecution accused the client of falsely billing the government and refusing to provide requested documentation related to the project.
After engaging in extensive pretrial discovery and meticulous investigation, Valenzuela Law negotiated a winning plea agreement for the client: they negotiated a dismissal of over 70 counts, reducing the prison time from decades of imprisonment, essentially lifetime, down to 24 months.
Such success is not luck — it is the result of meticulous hard work building a defense for the client. Those facing federal indictments are wise to seek legal counsel that will aggressively advocate for their interests, working to better ensure a favorable outcome.