There are many forms of fraud, but one of the most common forms is wire fraud. Wire fraud generally involves a defrauding scheme over the phone, internet, or other form of electronic communications.
According to Ohio Rev. Code 2913.05, wire fraud is a white collar crime involves defrauding another party out of money or property via interstate wire telecommunications. Generally, a prosecutor will have to prove that the defendant had the intent to defraud and that it was reasonably foreseeable that the defendant would use wire communications.
A typical wire fraud scheme may involve a perpetrator obtaining someone else’s financial information to obtain or misuse credit cards or transfer money from a bank account. Scammers also send out spam e-mails in an attempt to obtain someone’s personal information and wrongfully use it for financial gain.
In many cases, telecommunications fraud in Ohio is a fifth-degree felony, but a defendant may be charged with up to a first-degree felony depending on the value of the benefit obtained by the perpetrator. For example if the value of the benefit is between $150,000 and $1 million, the alleged perpetrator may be charged with a second degree felony.
A wire fraud conviction can result in up to $250,000 in fines for individuals and up to 20 years in prison, depending on the severity of the crime. If you have been charged with wire fraud, a criminal defense attorney specializing in white collar crime can give you the best chance at having your sentence reduced or your charges dropped entirely.
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