A former University of Pennsylvania Wharton School student, Charlie Javice, may face a decades-long prison sentence after being found guilty of defrauding JPMorgan Chase into buying her college financial aid startup, Frank, for $175 million. Manhattan prosecutors argued that Javice misled JPMorgan into the acquisition by claiming that Frank had 4.25 million users when it had only about 300,000. The fraud was suspected when the bank attempted to reach these supposed customers and got few responses. A federal jury convicted Javice and her co-defendant, Olivier Amar, of securities fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy. They will face sentencing later this year.

Being accused of fraud is a frightening experience with potentially life-changing consequences. That's why it's critical to hire a highly skilled criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights and build a strong defense as quickly as possible. If you're facing allegations of fraud or other white-collar crimes, the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team can help Pennsylvania clients defend against state and federal charges. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.

Federal Fraud Charges in Pennsylvania

Federal fraud charges are some of the most serious white-collar crimes in Pennsylvania. Federal law defines fraud as intentionally deceiving a person or entity by concealing material facts, making false or fraudulent statements, or using documents that contain falsehoods or misrepresentations intended to mislead or gain an unfair advantage.

Fraud charges can arise in a range of contexts, from banking to healthcare and government contracting. You can also be accused of conducting fraud in a variety of ways, with each as a separate charge, including:

• Wire Fraud – using electronic communications to carry out a fraudulent scheme.
• Mail Fraud – using the postal services or private carriers to commit fraud
• Email Fraud – using electronic mail to commit fraud
• Bank Fraud – where individuals intend to defraud financial institutions or obtain funds under false pretenses.
• Conspiracy to Commit Fraud – planning or agreeing to commit fraud with others, even if it never occurred.

Penalties for federal fraud convictions can be extremely severe, and may be aggravated depending upon the sum stolen and other circumstances. For example, each count of wire or mail fraud carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, with increased penalties (up to 30 years) if the fraud affects a financial institution. Bank fraud also carries a maximum of 30 years and a fineof up to $1 million per count. In addition to prison time and fines, defendants may face asset forfeiture and restitution orders.

Get the Legal Help You Need

You may feel there's no hope if you've been slammed with federal fraud charges. However, several strong defenses may apply to your case, including a lack of intent to defraud and an absence of knowledge of fraud. The sooner you hire an experienced white-collar crime defense lawyer to protect you, the better your chance of reaching the best possible outcome.

If you've been accused of fraud in Pennsylvania, don't wait to get legal help–contact the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team as soon as possible. Our knowledgeable attorneys have years of experience handling fraud cases and stand ready to represent your rights and best interests through this challenging process. To learn more, use our online contact form or call us at 888-535-3686 today.