Good people can get involved in bad situations. Maybe they made some bad decisions or blundered into a situation they couldn’t get free of. But either way, they face a troubling future.
Below is some important information for those facing financial institution fraud or other fraud charges like embezzlement.
Fraud charges can be federal
The FBI often investigates financial institution fraud charges like embezzlement. You could wind up as a target in a federal investigation. Even individuals who are not targets of an investigation can get dragged in as peripheral witnesses.
You could get a target letter
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issues target letters to those whom they have targeted to prosecute. Some recipients may first learn they are being investigated by these letters.
What the target letters will tell you
Recipients of target letters can expect to learn the following from their letters:
- Their status in grand jury investigations
- Which crime(s) they are suspected of
- They have their Fifth Amendment rights
- How they can seek a court-appointed lawyer (if they qualify)
Many target letters also contain warnings not to destroy evidence that might link me to a crime, as that could lead to further charges for obstruction of justice.
What to do if you face fraud charges?
If you are the target of an embezzlement investigation, you need to control the narrative. Responding to police questioning without the benefit of counsel can tank your case.
Being accused of financial institution fraud is serious. Whether you are facing embezzlement charges or some other kind of fraud, learning more about your defense options is a good idea.