Fraud Defense Lawyer

Fraud defense lawyer
Fraud Defense Lawyer, Orange County

Fraud

FRAUD DEFENSE LAWYER

Karren Kenney is a seasoned criminal and civil fraud defense attorney who has been defending clients in a wide range of fraud-related matters for more than 20 years. Ms. Kenney has dedicated her career to fighting for justice for those defending civil and criminal matters. She spent five years working specifically on cases involving aggravated white-collar crimes, like investment fraud, worker’s compensation fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion, and has tried more than 100 cases.

WHAT IS FRAUD?

The term “fraud” is often used generally to refer to a wide variety of behavior, and can be alleged as crimes or in civil actions where a person or business is trying to recoup money lost as a result of the alleged fraud.  Whether criminal or civil, fraud includes just about any intentionally deceitful action that gives an unfair advantage to the person accused or otherwise harms another person or entity. A person may be prosecuted for fraud criminally under state law or federal law.  A person who is facing a civil fraud action needs to be particularly careful to take precautions so the case does not turn into a criminal prosecution.  This generally occurs after a person provides deposition testimony in a civil case, the testimony is turned over to a prosecutor’s office, and criminal fraud charges are filed.  Common types of fraud prosecuted in California include:

  • Identity theft
  • Misrepresentation
  • Forgery
  • Interference
  • Mail fraud
  • Investment, bank and mortgage fraud

Some of these and other fraud offenses are automatic felonies, while others may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor. The potential penalties vary based on the nature of the offense, but can often be quite harsh, especially if there are any enhancements alleged. Life-changing punishments like imprisonment and being ordered to pay steep financial restitution regularly hang in the balance in these cases. As a result, it’s important to seek the counsel and advice of an experienced, competent criminal defense lawyer in the event that you’re charged with fraud or other white-collar offenses. A fraud defense lawyer can help with any and all of these situations.

DEFENSES TO FRAUD CHARGES IN CALIFORNIA

The good news for criminal defendants in fraud cases is that California and federal laws afford them a number of viable defenses a fraud defense lawyer can present. Chief among them is the “no intent” defense. The law requires prosecutors to prove that a person charged with fraud actually intended to deceive another person or business. If they can’t – if the damage to the victim was caused by a mistake of fact or misunderstanding, for example – the charges must be dropped, the case dismissed, or the defense is presented to a jury to decide. In addition, a person accused of fraud may argue that he or she was mistakenly identified as the perpetrator by a witness or that he or she was entrapped by a law enforcement officer who lured the person into committing the crime. As with other crimes, the prosecutors must prove each element of fraud beyond a reasonable doubt – a very high burden.

HOW WE CAN HELP – FRAUD DEFENSE LAWYER

Attorney Karren Kenney is an accomplished white-collar fraud defense lawyer, and has been certified as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) by the Association of Certified Fraud Specialists. Ms. Kenney takes an aggressive approach to defending clients, considering any and all opportunities to get charges dropped or reduced. She investigates and prepares cases thoroughly and has a proven track record of optimizing results my negotiating with prosecutors and presenting a comprehensive defense to judges and juries.

Among other previous victories, Ms. Kenney obtained a not guilty jury verdict for a client charged with computer fraud, grand theft and filing false deeds and a hung jury for another client charged with securities fraud, grand theft and forgery based on an alleged investment scam. The latter case, a two-month trial, included extensive cross-examination of all 11 of the supposed victims of the alleged fraud.

If you or a loved one has been charged with fraud or fighting a civil fraud case, fraud defense lawyer Karren Kenney. From our offices in Costa Mesa and San Diego, we serve clients throughout Southern California and nationwide in federal courts.  Call (855) 505-5588 or contact us online for a free consultation.

 

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