BANK FRAUD CHARGES
Bank fraud is defined as violations of the law at a bank or violations of the law by using accounts of a financial institution. Bank fraud ranges from relatively non-complex theft or embezzlement of money by a bank employee to a more complex scheme to defraud based upon false statements, such as the overvaluation of property or securities, or false loan applications and misuses of loaned money. With the rise of online banking, internet bank fraud has become more prevalent. 18 U.S.C. Section 1344 makes it a crime to defraud a bank or commit a scheme to defraud regarding the accounts of a financial institution. It provides punishment for “[w]hoever knowingly executes, or attempts to execute, a scheme or artifice (1) to defraud a financial institution; or (2) to obtain any of the moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by, or under the custody of or control of, a financial institution, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.” Furthermore, 18 U.S.C. Section 1014 makes it a federal crime to make a false statement to a financial institution. If convicted of bank fraud you may be facing large fines of up to $1,000,000 and/or imprisonment of up to thirty years.
Because of the life-threatening consequences of a bank fraud conviction it is important that you seek the services of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney immediately if you have been charged with or are being investigated for bank fraud. At Kestenbaum, Eisner, & Gorin, LLP, our attorneys have over 50 years combined experience in criminal defense and we will work hard to provide you with a successful defense. Because of the complexity of federal laws and court systems, it is very important that your lawyer have a good amount of experience in federal court rooms. Now is not the time to entrust your case to an attorney who is ill-equipped to handle your bank fraud charges. You should contact our firm as soon as possible to be directed to a lawyer who will address your charges in a way that will positively resolve your case.