Defense Against Charges Of Credit Card Fraud
Use of credit cards and debit cards is commonplace in contemporary society, and instances of credit card fraud are perhaps more frequent now than ever before.
In Illinois, charges of credit card fraud can relate to a wide variety of activities, including the use, sale and possession of a credit card or a debit card without the cardholder’s consent.
If you have been charged with credit card fraud — or if you are under investigation for such an offense — contact The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC, for a free initial consultation.
Possible Defenses Against Credit Card Fraud Charges
As with many fraud- and theft-related charges, in order for a person to be convicted of credit card fraud, it is incumbent on the prosecution to prove that the accused individual had the knowledge and intention to defraud someone.
Depending on the circumstances, however, it may be possible to show that the defendant was unaware of a fraudulent scheme and had no intention of participating in or enacting one.
At The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC, our founding attorney listens carefully to you and will help tell your side of the story. If you are facing a credit card fraud or counterfeiting charge, we can thoroughly investigate your case to determine whether your rights were violated by police or prosecutors at any point.
If you were a victim of police entrapment or were otherwise compelled by someone to engage in credit card fraud, we can help bring the truth to light.
Penalties For A Conviction
The penalties for credit card fraud largely depend on the value of the property obtained through the alleged scheme. Generally, this type of fraud is classified as a felony in Illinois.
In any case, being convicted of felony or misdemeanor credit card fraud can result in prison time, restitution and thousands of dollars in fines. However, with a strong criminal defense, it may be possible for a defendant to avoid jail time even with a felony conviction.
Explore Your Defense Options
For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case with a lawyer, contact our law office in Edwardsville. Call us at 618-307-4192. Phone calls are returned the same day, and evening and weekend appointments are available.