Fighting for you against fraud, forgery and identify theft charges

Our experienced Denver white collar crime lawyers represent clients throughout Colorado on all manner of white collar charges, including without limitation:

• Unemployment Fraud, 18-4-401, C.R.S.
• Bribery, 18-5-401, C.R.S.
• Check fraud, 18–5–205, C.R.S.
• Bad checks, 18-5-512, C.R.S.
• Credit purchase fraud, 18–5–207, C.R.S.
• Forgery, 18–5–102, C.R.S.
• Identity theft, 18-5-902, C.R.S.
• Insurance fraud, 18-5-211, C.R.S.
• Money laundering, 18–5–309, C.R.S. and
• Prescription fraud, 18-18-415, C.R.S.

Aggressive, proactive white collar defense in Denver

Federal and Colorado white collar criminal laws are some of the most complex laws there are. But our caring Denver criminal fraud and white collar defense lawyers understand the nuances.

We also know how local and federal law enforcement and the prosecutors at the Denver District Attorney and the Denver office of the Department of Justice put together white collar cases. We know how to work with expert witnesses and financial records to present the best defense to your federal and Colorado fraud, bribery, identify theft or money laundering charges.

But we also know how to listen. We understand that being accused of a crime is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through. At the Colorado Legal Defense group our clients are more than just cases. They are living, breathing human beings who deserve the best criminal defense possible.

To help you better understand Colorado white collar crimes, our Colorado criminal defense lawyers discuss the following, below:

• 1. What is fraud?
• 2. Colorado white collar and fraud penalties
• 3. Defenses to Colorado white collar charges

1. What is fraud?

Title 18, Article 5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) sets forth numerous fraud-related offenses. These are sometimes referred to generically as “white collar” crimes.

Generally speaking, you commit criminal fraud in Colorado whenever you:

• Engage in a wrongful act with the intent to gain an unfair or undeserved benefit for yourself, and/or
• Intentionally cause harm or loss to another person through such an act.

Colorado fraud is usually driven by either or both of two motives:

• financial gain, or
• an attempt to avoid liability for a crime (a cover-up).

2. Colorado white collar and fraud penalties

Colorado fraud offenses can be charged as Colorado petty offenses, Colorado misdemeanors or Colorado felonies depending on various factors, including:

• The value of the property involved,
• The nature of the property involved (for instance, drug crimes tend to be punished more severely)
• Your relationship to the victim, and
• Whether you had a fiduciary duty to the victim.

In general, smaller, personal offenses such as check kiting or fraudulently purchasing low-value items on credit are misdemeanors. Misdemeanor sentences can carry up to $1,000 and/or up to 364 days in jail.

Bribery, forgery, money laundering and prescription fraud, on the other hand, are felonies. Consequences of the most serious Colorado fraud charges can include:

• up to 24 years in Colorado prison, and/or
• a fine of up to $1,000,000.

3. Defenses to Colorado white collar charges

Colorado fraud cases can be quite complex. So can defending a Colorado fraud case.

Fortunately, there are a variety of legal defenses a skilled Colorado criminal attorney can present on your behalf. Some of the most common include (but are not limited to):

• You didn’t have fraudulent intent. Perhaps you wrote a bad check, legitimately thinking you had enough funds to cover it. Or you expected to have them before the check cleared.
• You were a victim of mistaken identity.
• The police lured you into committing a wrongful act (entrapment).

See our related article about UCC-related crimes in Colorado.

Call our Denver fraud lawyers for help…

People understandably get worked up when it comes to their money. They want someone to blame for their losses. As a result, innocent people often get accused of fraud. Or sometimes prosecutors overeager to make a name for themselves charge small acts of fraud as major financial crimes.

Our compassionate Colorado fraud defense lawyers understand how frightening and incomprehensible charges of fraud can seem. We understand the complexities involved in Colorado fraud cases. Whatever mistakes you’ve made, we can help.

If you or someone you know has been accused of fraud in Colorado, we invite you to contact us for a free consultation. We will listen to the facts of your case and discuss possible legal defenses and strategies.

Communities we serve include Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Thornton, Arvada, Westminster, and Centennial, as well as other locations throughout the state.

Reach out to us using the form on the page, or call us at our Denver home office:

Colorado Legal Defense Group
4047 Tejon Street
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 222-0330