Federal Program Fraud Attorneys
The federal government sponsors a number of programs whose purpose is to provide aid and funds for individuals and businesses. These programs account for billions of dollars in federal spending, and as such, the government is particularly strict at enforcing any instances of fraud that happens as a result of these programs. Some examples would be small businesses that took PPP money but did not use the funds for approved purposes or individuals who put in false or fraudulent applications in order to collect money from one or more of these programs. Along with the increased focus on federal program fraud, the authorities have long had an oversized focus on prosecuting white-collar crime.
Many defendants are being used as deterrence for other possible offenders, and in the process receiving stiff fines and lengthy prison sentences. The Norman Spencer Law Group represents clients at any stage of the process, whether you’re simply facing a criminal investigation into program fraud or are facing actual charges. No case is too big or small, too simple or complex.
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What is Federal Program Fraud?
While there are a number of crimes that fall under the umbrella term of program fraud, the statute is actually quite clear and direct when it comes to what sort of actions fall under this. Specifically, this applies to any agent of an organization who receives over $10,000 a year from any sort of government subsidy, contract, subsidy, or the like. This also applies to loans and insurance, so charges such as insurance fraud can and often do get lumped onto charges of program fraud when applicable.
This law also applies to anyone who might solicit or give bribes in order to influence the appropriation and disbursement of these funds. Taken further, prosecutors actually need to prove that the defendant stole $5,000 or more from one of these programs as a result of this scheme in order to successfully convict.
As you might imagine, there are a number of different crimes that can be charged alongside program fraud, and those can include things like larceny, embezzlement, fraud, and many others. And since program fraud is considered a white-collar crime, prosecutors often tack on as many charges as they can, both as a deterrent to others and to pad their own resumes in the process.
What is the Process for These Cases?
Each investigation and charge is unique, but there are certain commonalities that apply to most if not all. The first thing someone who’s facing an investigation or criminal charges of program fraud should do is to secure legal representation. It’s all too common for prosecutors and the authorities to try to force defendants into a corner, using fear to their advantage and trying to force plea deals that aren’t in the defendant’s best interest.
The right defense attorney won’t just fight for you in court, they’ll work hard to ideally get your charges reduced or even dropped before you even have to set foot in a courtroom. With federal cases like these, time is especially of the essence. Even if you haven’t been charged yet and are only facing investigation, it’s imperative that you get in touch with a lawyer right away so that a comprehensive and effective defense strategy can be formed.
What Makes a Federal Program Fraud Investigation Different?
One of the immediately obvious differences between a program fraud investigation and investigation into most other criminal charges is the public nature and outsized focus on cases of program fraud, especially recently. Defendants often find themselves in the media limelight, so along with often facing multiple charges, each of which could land them in prison for years, they also have to face the court of public opinion.
It’s all too common and understandable for defendants in cases like these to quickly get overwhelmed, and the last thing you want in that kind of situation is to have to decide from a long list of legal firms and defense attorneys who can potentially take on your case. It can be tempting to just want to choose the first group you come across, but that’s ill-advised.
Not every legal firm is equal, and the right lawyer can be the difference between you walking free and spending a sizable chunk of your life behind bars. Since this is one of the most important choices you can make, there are a few important things to consider first.
What Goes Into This Decision?
The first thing you need to consider is the overall experience of the legal firm you’re going with. Not only do they need to have years of expertise in cases just like yours, but they need to have a proven track record of success. On top of that, they need to be well-versed in the federal court process, as your average state-level attorney will be out of their element when it comes to the proceedings and stakes of your average federal case.
Why Choose Norman Spencer Law Group?
The Norman Spencer Law Group has a combined 70 years of experience handling cases of nearly every size and type, and complexity is not an issue for our attorneys either. Not only do we have a proven track record of success, but we have extensive experience at both the state and federal levels. At Norman Spencer, we believe that everyone deserves 1:1 service, and that starts right at the beginning for us.
We have a variety of accessibility options, including remote legal consultations that we can host for you via Zoom, Skype, and Google Duo. On top of that, we can get a representative out to you if needed, no matter where you might be in the country. So if you’re facing legal trouble, get in touch with us as soon as possible. Someone from our team will be in touch right away and get started on getting you the help that you need