If you are being accused of a consumer fraud crime, finding experienced professionals like Lexington KY criminal defense attorney or a consumer fraud lawyer immediately after your arrest is where you should start in taking control of your future.

Types of Consumer Fraud Charges & Penal Codes in Kentucky

White collar crimes in Kentucky are non-violent offenses that involve fiscal matters such as fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, insider trading, identity theft and others, normally carried out by people in business or government. Being accused of a white collar crime is enough to ruin your reputation and your livelihood, which is why you would want a white collar crime lawyer or consumer fraud lawyer as soon as you’re accused.

List of Common Fraud Crimes in Kentucky

• Telemarketing Fraud
• Pyramid Schemes
• Identity Theft
• False Advertising
• Credit Card Fraud

If you or someone you care about has been charged with a consumer fraud charge in Kentucky, contact our reputable criminal defense lawyers or consumer fraud lawyers as soon as possible by calling 859-636-6803.

Penalties in Consumer Fraud Cases

Penalties for white collar crimes could range from very expensive fines to long prison sentences. Even if the most common punishment is time in minimum-security prisons, there’s no reason it can be something even harsher, especially if substantial amounts of money are involved. White collar crimes like tax fraud, credit card fraud, insider trading and fraud against the government are harshly punished and sometimes even handed over to federal prosecutors. Although for consumer fraud cases, whether the crime is classified as a misdemeanor or a felony is detailed in their individual statutes, most fraud crimes are felonies in both state and federal law.

Take consumer fraud offenses and allegations seriously and get professional legal representation in an expert local consumer fraud lawyer as soon as possible to see to your case.

Misdemeanor

In the US, a misdemeanor is a crime punishable by less than a year in prison, and sometimes there are only heavy fines involved, probation, or other sentences less harsh than with felonies. In general, the consequences for someone guilty of a consumer fraud crime punishable by a misdemeanor are;

• Class A misdemeanors – 90 days to 12 months jail time, including a monetary fine that can cost up to 500 dollars , and
• Class B misdemeanors – up to 90 days jail time, including a monetary fine up to 250 dollars

Nonetheless, they are a stain on your permanent record and can change your life for the worse, which is why you need the best consumer fraud attorney you can get. A competent consumer fraud defense attorney can get your case dismissed, charges filed against you dropped, or fight for an expungement of your misdemeanor conviction altogether.

Felony

A felony is the most serious type of crime, and hence, they offer the most serious punishments, with years in prison. They are divided (like misdemeanors as well) into classes. The imprisonment terms for each class of this offense are;

• Class A – 20 to 50 years, or even life imprisonment,
• Class B – 10 to 20 years,
• Class C – 5 to 10 years, and
• Class D – 1 year to 5 years

All serious crimes, except murders (they have their own punishments), are classified as felonies.

It’s also important to point out that former convictions of this degree matter. If district court investigations and records show you are a “persistent offender,” then it’s very likely you’ll be facing a longer prison term vs someone guilty of the same crime without records of a prior felony conviction. (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.080 (2019 ).). If this is the case, it is advised for you to share this information with your consumer fraud defense lawyer at the earliest.

A person found guilty of a felony in states like Kentucky will also need to pay a fine costing between 1,000 dollars and 10,000 dollars. Or, if it applies, double any gain from committing the offense. In the event that it does, the district court usually orders whichever amount is greater to be paid (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 534.030 (2019 ).).

It’s difficult facing offenses as serious as this alone, especially since these have long-lasting consequences on a person’s life once convicted. Which is why hiring expert consumer fraud defense attorneys with adept insights and resources are essential. It’s also good advice to hire consumer fraud lawyers who pay close attention to create a great working attorney client relationship with the people and cases they take on. Experienced consumer fraud attorneys will know what to expect including with the best way to protect your rights, or avoid a conviction altogether.

Federal

In the United States, more than other crimes, white collar offenses are usually prosecuted by federal authorities. The FBI is responsible for processing those accused of federal white collar crimes. Federal white collar charges result when they transpire on or against federal property and institutions, but they are mostly a federal offense because they normally involve financial institutions and businesses across several states. Some of these offenses include, but are not limited to, money laundering, tax evasion, election law violations, embezzlement, and several types of fraud, like mortgage, bank, health care, mass marketing, securities, and commodities, and corporate fraud. People in business or government are the vast majority of those arrested for white collar crimes. These are not victimless crimes.There can be billions of dollars at stake, along with the livelihoods of thousands of people. The penalties for white -collar crimes can range from a simple fine to jail time of a few years. The punishment will depend on the extent of the money involved, people affected, and even the social implications of your crime. You will immediately need a federal consumer fraud lawyer if you are facing a consumer fraud charge in Kentucky or anywhere else.

You need an experienced criminal defense lawyer that specializes in consumer fraud defense

All of our criminal consumer fraud attorneys at Cooley Iuliano Robey, PLLC are members of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as well as the Kentucky Bar Association, with decades of experience in matters of consumer fraud charges and consumer fraud defenses or other practice areas. We value the best interest of every client, above all, and with our insights about law, we can create new defense opportunities in your case, no matter how minor. When it comes to consumer fraud crimes, you need consumer fraud attorneys who will fight for your constitutional rights, and start by doing an evaluation of every evidence and substance of the detail of your case content, no matter how inconsequential they may be. We will then create the best defenses in your trial and strive to avoid the harshest sentence or any penalties at all.

Free Consultation & Case Review from our experienced consumer fraud lawyers

At CIR Legal, our consumer fraud attorney’s consumer fraud defense services include offering free consultation and case review to potential clients or otherwise. Our consumer fraud attorneys have fought and will always strive to fight for the rights of every defendant in the state of Kentucky, no matter the type of offense. Call our law office at 859-636-6803 or fill out our form for a free consultation be it pm or am.