What is Mail Fraud?

Charges of mail fraud arise when someone is suspected of using The U.S. Postal Service in the furtherance of a scheme to defraud. A rough definition of a scheme to defraud is the use of deception through which one party is deprived of something of value. After reading this last sentence one might be both concerned and confused because the definition of a scheme to defraud is not one that is especially specific. Such imprecision of a key element of the statute for mail fraud is the heart of the problem facing defendants. Those statutes that define mail fraud are especially ambiguous, placing an inordinate amount of power in the hands of prosecutors.

You are never backed into a corner; there are always steps that a skilled and experienced mail fraud attorney can take in your defense. Often times, prosecutors with try to stretch the definition of mail fraud too far and claim that actions which were perfectly legal were in fact illegal. Examples are instances where alleged schemes to defraud may not have resulted in any actual loss, when the alleged victim is a foreign country, or when the use of threats and coercion is utilized in a scheme to defraud.

Strategies

Prosecutors will try to describe questionable business practices as “sleazy” and then depend on jury’s natural association with that word and fraud to secure a conviction for mail fraud. However, while most instances of mail fraud may involve some sort of questionable business practice, not all allegedly sleazy business practices constitute mail fraud. The United States of America was built on the back of aggressive and ambitious people. The courts have a history of protecting these people, one way or another. Ask you experienced mail fraud attorney what ways past precedent can help protect you from a mail fraud conviction.

Penalties

Just like the penalties for all other white collar crimes, the penalties for mail fraud are especially severe. The federal sentencing guidelines that determine the penalties for mail fraud are very complicated and take into account many different variables of the case. Depending on the circumstances, penalties for mail fraud can be up to 30 years in jail and a fine of $1 million dollars. If you have been indicted for mail fraud, contact the mail fraud attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm and schedule a consultation, they can give you some insight as to what possible jail time you may be facing.

Just because you are confident that you will not be convicted of mail fraud does not mean that you are in the clear. Time and time again, mail fraud will be just one part of an indictment which will also carry many other charges including, but not limited to:

• Wire Fraud
• Money Laundering
• Theft
• Identity Theft
• Bank Fraud
• Violations of The RICO Act
• Ponzi Schemes
• Illegal Gambling
• Securities Fraud
• Forgery
• Boiler Room Schemes
• Health Care Fraud

The Blanch Law Firm Can Help

The penalties for these charges can be just as severe as those for mail fraud. If you or someone you know is facing charges of mail fraud you need to make sure that you have an experienced white collar firm protecting your rights. The mail fraud attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm have over 40 years of combined experienced in criminal law, they know the strategies that prosecutors will try to use in order to secure a conviction for mail fraud. Contact them today, schedule an appointment, and begin the fight to restore your freedom.