It is not uncommon for a person to find themselves in trouble when they have financial duties to a large company. Financial fraud is a problem in Texas and across the United States. Many times, a person has access to significant funds, and they can make mistakes that lead to an arrest for fraud. In other, they simply get caught up in a situation where they were unaware that they were breaking the law and find themselves brought up on fraud charges. And in other cases, there was no wrongdoing at all and those who were arrested are innocent.
Houston woman arrested for wire fraud
A woman who worked for the property management division of Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland was recently charged with wire fraud. The woman allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud the company by approving invoices from a ranch vendor for goods and services that she knew the vendor did not provide. The charges stem from invoices receives between December 2013 and November 2017. The woman allegedly caused the vendor to kickback to her 50% of the payment the vendor received which has totaled more than $420,000. If she is convicted, she faces 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
White collar crimes have serious consequences
The government does not take fraud charges lightly. They aggressively prosecute those suspected of fraud using state and federal resources. A person may think that those who are convicted of violent crimes get the harshest penalties, but this is not the case. Those facing white collar crimes including fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and other financial crimes can face substantial jail time and fines.
Legal assistance is important
If a person is facing fraud charges, they may want to speak with an attorney who specializes in criminal defense. An attorney has the experience necessary to aggressively defend their client against these charges and help their client tell their side of the story. In fraud cases, there is often a substantial amount of money involved and people who are arrested are known in their community, making it even more difficult to forge an effective defense. An attorney can offer effective advocacy and counsel and help protect their client’s good reputation.