Federal criminal proceedings involving five Florida residents were recently concluded. All were accused of white collar crime under suspicion for identity theft and tax fraud. All five people have since been convicted and sentenced to serve time in prison for their participation in the scheme.
Being charged with such crimes often carries severe penalties if convicted. However, there are various ways that an experienced criminal defense attorney is able to approach the situation by challenging certain aspects of charges or an arrest. It is also sometimes possible that an attorney is able to obtain an acquittal or a lesser sentence on behalf of a client.
The five involved in the recent situation were accused of filing fraudulent tax returns. It appears that they used other people’s personal information to file the returns. The Internal Revenue Service reportedly issued a substantial amount of fraudulent refunds in connection with the case. Those sentenced range in age from 32 to 45; each now slated to spend time in a federal penitentiary and pay restitution for the fraudulent acts.
Anyone charged with a similar white collar crime in Florida is entitled to retain the assistance of an attorney experienced in high-profile cases. Even if a person becomes aware that he or she is the subject of a federal investigation, but has not been formally charged with a crime, it is advisable to discuss the matter with a lawyer. All such discussions are kept private and sound legal counsel can be provided as to how best to proceed should one be questioned or formally charged by authorities.
Source: sun-sentinel.com, “$7.5M identity theft tax fraud sends five to prison“, Paula McMahon, Feb. 10, 2016
