Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud & Securities Fraud Lawyer Minneapolis MN

State and federal prosecutors may charge individuals who engage in fraudulent schemes using the postal service or the Internet. Prosecution for mail, wire, or securities fraud can impose significant penalties, especially when facing federal charges. Because mail, wire, or securities fraud charges can have serious consequences for you, don’t wait to talk to an experienced legal advocate. Contact Mauzy Law Office, P.A., for an initial case review with a criminal defense lawyer to discuss how our firm can help you protect your rights, reputation, and future from investigation or prosecution for mail, wire, or securities fraud.

Understanding Mail Fraud

A person may commit the crime of mail fraud when they create or intend to create a scheme to defraud, obtain money or property by false or fraudulent pretenses, or sell, dispose of, loan, exchange, alter, give away, distribute, supply, or procure any counterfeit currency or security, and in the course of such a scheme place something in the mail for delivery by the U.S. Postal Service or any private or commercial interstate carrier. A person may also commit mail fraud when they receive anything sent through the Postal Service or an interstate carrier as part of an unlawful scheme.

People can face mail fraud charges when they send or receive documents or items in the mail as part of an unlawful scheme, such as submitting fraudulent applications, engaging in criminally deceptive advertising, or issuing false checks.

Penalties for a mail fraud conviction include up to 20 years in prison, a fine, or both. However, the maximum penalty increases to 30 years and a fine of $1 million if an offense involves a benefit connected to a major disaster or emergency or affects a financial institution.

Understanding Wire Fraud

A person commits wire fraud when they devise or intend to devise a scheme to defraud or obtain money or property by false or fraudulent pretenses by transmitting written correspondence, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds via telecommunications wires, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce. Individuals can face prosecution for wire fraud when they execute or attempt to execute a fraudulent scheme online, via telephone, or facsimile. Common examples of fraudulent schemes that can lead to wire fraud charges include:

Phishing scams
Investment fraud
Billing scams

People may also face wire fraud charges when they conduct online financial transactions as part of a fraudulent scheme.

Like mail fraud, penalties for a wire fraud conviction include up to 20 years in prison, a fine, or both, with the maximum penalty increasing to 30 years and a fine of $1 million if an offense involves a benefit connected to a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency or affects a financial institution.

Understanding Securities Fraud

Securities fraud occurs when a person willfully violates or engages in a conspiracy to violate provisions of state or federal securities laws. Under Minnesota law, a person can face criminal prosecution for willfully violating any statute under Minnesota’s Securities Act or any rule or order adopted or issued by the state securities regulators or for knowingly issuing a materially false or misleading statement. Criminal penalties for violating Minnesota’s securities laws include imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Under federal criminal law, a person may face prosecution for securities fraud if they knowingly execute or attempt to execute a scheme to:

Defraud any person in connection with any security, commodity for future delivery, or option on a commodity for future delivery
Obtain by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises any money or property in connection with the purchase or sale of any security, commodity for future delivery, or option on a commodity for future delivery

Federal law further defines a “securities fraud offense” as involving a violation of:

Section 32(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Section 23 of the Securities Act of 1933
Section 217 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
Section 39 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
Section 325 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

A federal conviction for securities fraud can impose a penalty of up to 25 years in prison, a fine, or both. People convicted of securities fraud may also face restitution obligations requiring them to reimburse their victims for their financial losses.

State vs. Federal Charges

Many criminal fraud cases result in federal criminal prosecution. For example, mail and wire fraud constitute federal criminal offenses because these crimes occur across state lines or national borders and involve the use of the U.S. Postal Service or public airwaves or telecommunications systems, which fall under federal jurisdiction. Prosecution for securities fraud cases may occur at the state or federal level. Cases occurring entirely within Minnesota may result in state prosecution. However, securities fraud cases involving interstate or foreign commerce, or those involving publicly traded securities, will usually lead to federal prosecution.

Building a Strong Defense

Potential defenses you might pursue when facing mail, wire, or securities fraud charges include:

Lack of Intent – Defendants may argue that the government’s evidence fails to prove they acted with the criminal intent required by the fraud statute.
Lack of Knowledge – A defendant accused of securities fraud through materially false or misleading statements may claim they did not know of the falsity of their statement(s) or that they made the statements in good faith.
Mistaken Identity – Defendants facing mail or wire fraud charges may deny having sent the letter, parcel, or communication connected to a fraudulent scheme.
Unlawfully Obtained Evidence – A defendant may seek to exclude evidence from the case when investigators obtained it through means such as an illegal search or an improper custodial interrogation.

Why Choose Our Criminal Defense Firm?

Facing prosecution for mail, wire, or securities fraud can cause you considerable stress and anxiety as you worry about your future. Let a criminal defense attorney from Mauzy Law Office, P.A., fight for your rights and interests after getting indicted on mail, wire, or securities fraud charges because:

Our firm has over three decades of experience representing clients facing complex criminal charges, with a proven track record that includes more than 100 trial victories in state and federal courts.
Attorney William Mauzy holds board certification as a criminal trial specialist from the Minnesota State Bar Association and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has won recognition for his legal counsel, including listings in Best Lawyers in America and Top 10 Lawyers in Minnesota. He has also earned selection as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor recognizing the top one percent of trial lawyers in the nation. Attorney Mauzy has also made appearances or had profiles in various media outlets, including CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
At our firm, you can expect our legal team to work diligently to provide you with aggressive representation to help you seek a fair and efficient resolution to your mail, wire, or securities fraud charges.

Contact Us Today for Help Resolving Your Charges

When prosecutors investigate you for mail, wire, or securities fraud or bring criminal charges against you, you need experienced legal counsel to help you protect your rights and interests. Contact Mauzy Law Office, P.A., today for a confidential consultation with a seasoned criminal defense attorney to discuss your charges and learn how our firm can help you pursue a favorable resolution to your case.

Mail, Wire and Securities Fraud