• Assault & Domestic Assault
• Burglary & Theft
• Drug Crimes
• DUI & DWI
• Firearms & Guns
• Fraud
• Harassment & Privacy
• Kidnapping & Obstruction Justice
• Manslaughter & Homicide
• Sex Crime Charges
• White Collar Crimes
• Pre-Charge & Avoiding Charges
• Record Expungment
• Racketeering / RICO
• Drug Trafficking / Importation
• Money Laundering
• Public Corruption

Minneapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer for Fraud Charges

Fraud is the crime of deliberately deceiving a person or organization in order to damage them by obtaining money, property or services unjustly. Minnesota fraud statutes outline the various categories of fraud under Minnesota law:

Medical Assistance Fraud
Any person who, with the intent to defraud, presents a claim for reimbursement, a cost report or a rate application, relating to the payment of medical assistance funds to the state agency, which is false in whole or in part, is guilty of an attempt to commit theft of public funds. This includes fraudulent claims made to Medicare and Medicaid.

Health Care Fraud
Involves submitting false claims to the federal health care authorities in order to gain extra money or avoid making payments. There are a number of different ways one can commit health care fraud, including but not limited to: Lying about a child’s existence or age to get additional coverage; using someone else’s identity to fill out a health care insurance claim; lying about income, age, address, immigration status, citizenship, marital status, etc.; putting in claims with inaccurate information; making claims for incidents that did not occur.

Insurance Fraud
A person who presents, causes to be presented, or prepares with knowledge or reason to believe that it will be presented any information that contains a false representation as to any material fact, by or on behalf of an insured, claimant, or applicant to an insurer, insurance professional, or premium finance company in connection with an insurance transaction or premium finance transaction, is guilty of insurance fraud. In addition, those who remove or destroy an insurer’s records or divert, misappropriate, convert or embezzle money from an insurer are guilty of insurance fraud.

Fraudulent Statements
It is a crime for a person or organization who circulates or publishes a false statement, oral or written, relating to a corporation, association, or individual, intending thereby to give a false apparent value to securities issued or to be issued by, or to the property of, such corporation, association, or individual, or who makes false a ship's or airplane's manifest, invoice, or register.

Lottery Fraud
An individual who alters or counterfeits a Minnesota lottery ticket, knowingly presents an altered or counterfeited state lottery ticket for payment, knowingly transfers an altered or counterfeited state lottery ticket to another person or otherwise claims a lottery prize by means of fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation is guilty of lottery fraud.

Fraudulent Driver's Licenses
It is a crime to be in control, custody, or possession any implement, or any part of such an item, designed to assist in making a fraudulent driver's license or identification card, engraves, makes, or amends, or begins to engrave, make, or amend, any implement for the purpose of producing a fraudulent driver's license or identification card, uses a photocopier, digital camera, photographic image, or computer software to generate a fraudulent driver's license or identification card, has in control, custody, or possession or makes or provides paper or other material adapted and designed for the making of a fraudulent driver's license or identification card or prints, photographs, or in any manner makes or executes an engraved photograph, print, or impression purporting to be a driver's license or identification card.

Gambling Fraud
A person who knowingly claims a lawful gambling prize using altered or counterfeited gambling equipment, knowingly claims a lawful gambling prize by means of fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, manipulates any form of lawful gambling or tampers with any gambling equipment with intent to influence the outcome of a game or the receipt of a prize or knowingly places or uses false information on a prize receipt or on any other form approved for use by the Gambling Control Board or the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division of the Department of Public Safety is guilty of gambling fraud.

Fraud In Obtaining Credit
It is a crime for a person to, with intent to defraud, obtains personal credit or credit for another from a bank, trust company, savings association, or credit union, by means of a present or past false representation as to the person's or another's financial ability.

Credit Card Fraud
It is a crime in Minnesota for a person to, without the consent of the cardholder, and knowing that the cardholder has not given consent, uses or attempts to use a card to obtain the property of another, or a public assistance benefit issued for the use of another.

Mortgage Fraud
A person who knowingly makes or causes to be made any deliberate and material misstatement, misrepresentation, or omission during the mortgage lending process with the intention that it be relied on by a mortgage lender, borrower, or any other party to the mortgage lending process or who knowingly uses or facilitates the use of any deliberate and material misstatement, misrepresentation, or omission, knowing the same to contain a material misstatement, misrepresentation, or omission, during the mortgage lending process with the intention that it be relied on by a mortgage lender, borrower, or any other party to the mortgage lending process is guilty of mortgage fraud.

Real Estate Fraud
Real estate fraud is perpetrated in numerous ways, including but not limited to artificially inflating the value of a home to obtain a larger loan; inflating the value of a home so the buyer can receive cash back at closing; submitting false documents to secure financing, including phony paycheck stubs and fake W-2's; taking out multiple mortgages on a property that collectively far exceed the value of the property; selling a home without disclosing to the buyer that it has a tenant; selling the same home to several different buyers.

Telecommunications Fraud
An individual who evades a lawful charge, obtains telecommunications service for the person's own use by any fraudulent means is guilty of telecommunications fraud.

Mail and Wire Fraud
Statutes cover most any type of fraud that in some way uses the “mail” or “wire.” “Mail” includes not only the United States Postal Service but also any mailings sent through a private commercial carrier. “Wire” includes the use of a telephone, television, radio, internet, computer or other communication device. A person can be charged with mail or wire fraud if they somehow used the mail or other communication device to perpetrate a scheme with the intent to commit fraud. Mail and wire fraud charges are used in conjunction with more specific type of fraud charges, such as bank fraud or insider trading.

Tax Fraud
Tax fraud and tax evasion charges can include but are not limited to maintaining inadequate tax records, failure to file a tax return, inconstancy in explanations of behavior surrounding tax claims, illegal activities, concealing illegal activities, dealing in cash, failure to make estimated tax payments, submitting false information to the tax authorities, and making false claims.

Securities Fraud
Securities fraud cases could include, but are not limited to, stock fraud, insider trading, investment fraud, financial advisor fraud, fraudulent/illegitimate business corporations, nondisclosure, and manipulation of stock prices.

Fraud charges can lead to dire consequences if not dealt with correctly. Retaining a attorney in Minnesota can prevent a conviction and otherwise protect your rights. With your future at stake, contact the knowledgeable Minneapolis criminal defense attorney Paul Edlund as soon as possible. Serving Minneapolis, St. Paul, the Greater Twin Cities Metro and beyond, Mr. Edlund is a reputable criminal defense attorney with an exceptional rate of success. The earlier a lawyer is involved with your case, the better your attorney will be able to defend you: Contact Paul Edlund today for a consultation!