Federal Real Estate Fraud Defense Lawyer
Due to the economy and other circumstances, real estate fraud has increased tremendously. As a consequence, the Federal government has actively and aggressively investigated, busted, and prosecuted real estate fraud schemes. Our federal criminal defense attorneys are here to be even more aggressive and fight on your behalf if you are facing real estate fraud charges.
With a deep understanding of real estate fraud laws and federal procedures, our team of federal criminal defense attorneys is well-respected throughout Los Angeles County. We bring unmatched credentials to the table, guaranteeing our competence and persistence to secure the best possible outcome for you.
Real Estate fraud is to defraud a federally insured lending institution, such as a bank. Real estate fraud charges are very serious. There are many different ways commit real estate fraud schemes. Some examples are foreclosure bailouts, home equity fraud, home renovation scams, rental fraud to name a few.
Common schemes involving real estate loans are property flipping (when a buyer pays a low price for a property by making false statements to the lender and then selling it for a much higher price) and fraudulent qualifications (providing false employment history and/or credit reports to get a loan).
Different Types of Real Estate Fraud
These cases are interesting because this type of white-collar crime can take on so many different forms. People are using straw buyers (individuals who purchase property on behalf of someone else to conceal the true owner's identity) to buy houses. You have insiders in banks who are involved in helping people with loans. You have people falsifying their income in order to get a real estate loan. There are so many different things going on that it's impossible to cover every possible angle in this segment.
The bottom line is, if you're charged with some form of real estate fraud, obviously real estate is the backbone of the United States government. Hence, the feds/the prosecutors take these types of cases very seriously and they're going to come down very hard on anybody they suspect of any type of real estate fraud.
It's interesting. All sorts of fraud goes on in the real estate market that is unreported, and nothing happens, and that's because people pay their money. As long as people are paying their money, then the feds don't need to become involved.
But, where the problem comes in is when somebody uses straw buyers, buys a house, and goes into foreclosure, the next thing you know, the bank needs to get their money. The government is the big brother of the bank so they're going to come in and start investigating. If they feel that some sort of real estate fraud is going on, they're going to come down on everybody involved.
Experience in Defending Federal Criminal Cases
If you find yourself charged with a crime related to a real estate fraud transaction, you need an attorney with a proven track record. With twenty-five years of experience defending federal cases, our team is seasoned, savvy, and knows how to navigate these complex cases.
They need all the information. They don't have the big picture as to exactly what is going on, so somebody has to come in who's handled these types of cases before; who knows what the government has to prove in order to prove a mortgage fraud case at the federal level against somebody.
When you start talking about punishments for federal real estate fraud, they're going to look at what happened, how much was lost, and whether the person we're targeting in the fraud case was responsible for the full loss or if somebody else is responsible.
That's important because if you're responsible for an amount of loss, that's going to dictate how much time you're looking at at the federal level. After all, when they start breaking down sentences in a federal real estate fraud case, they're looking at how much money was somebody out.
Did you cause that? Are you responsible for it? Then, they'll start talking about enhancements related to the case that's being charged against you. These enhancements could include factors like the involvement of multiple parties, the use of sophisticated methods, or the impact on vulnerable individuals. Those enhancements can amount to years in federal prison.
So, it's crucial you get in front of an attorney and start talking to them about your situation. Let your champion—your federal criminal defense attorney—represent you and make the moves necessary to put you in the best possible position.
If you're innocent, to defend you all the way down the line. Suppose you've done something wrong to mitigate and minimize the damage to your record, the damage to your family, your reputation, and, of course, your freedom.
Legal Penalties
Real estate fraud penalties are severe, and prosecution results in not only the actual loss caused by the fraud but also the intended loss, which is often magnified by the prosecution. This means that you could be held responsible for a much larger amount than the actual loss, leading to significantly harsher penalties.
Our duty as your criminal lawyer is to minimize any penalties that the prosecution is trying to impose on you. We assert any and all defenses applicable to your case, and protecting your legal rights is our top priority.
So, pick up the phone now and make the call. Over the twenty-five years I've been practicing federal criminal defense, I've handled hundreds of real estate fraud cases, and I can help you. If you are facing charges of real estate fraud, call the Hedding Law Firm and set up a free face-to-face consultation. We will start preparing your case immediately.
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