Baltimore Fraudulent Checks Lawyer
Fraud crimes in Maryland are wide-ranging and increasingly prevalent. As such, the state of Maryland has attempted to deter fraudulent behavior by instituting harsh penalties that require competent legal representation.
A Baltimore fraudulent checks lawyer can help evaluate if the charges being brought against you are legitimate while looking at ways to lessen the penalties you may be facing. Having an experienced Baltimore fraudulent checks lawyer by your side will help to give you the best chance to achieve a positive result in your check fraud case. Call today to discuss your case with a fraud attorney in Baltimore.
Issuing Bad Checks
Other fraudulent behaviors include:
- Issuing bad checks
- Identity theft
- Credit card crimes
In Maryland, it is against the law for you to obtain property and/or services by way of issuing a bad check per Maryland Code Section 8-103. This means that you will face possible penalties if you write a check while knowing that there are not enough funds in the accompanying bank account to cover the check. Further, the law stipulates that it is unlawful for you to write a check with the intent of stopping payment with the accompanying financial institution. However, “intent” is often a difficult thing to articulate, and as such, a Baltimore fraudulent check lawyer can work with you raise doubt as to whether intent was present during an alleged crime.
Fradulent Check Penalties
Maryland determines the appropriate penalty based upon the value of the property or service you obtained by way of a bad check.
If you have knowingly written a bad check in order to obtain property or services in violation of Section 8-103, you could be facing the following penalties outlined in Section 8-106 which all warrant contact with a fraudulent checks lawyer in Baltimore:
-
- Up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine in excess of $500 if you obtained property or services with a value less than $100
- Up to 18 months in jail and/or a fine in excess of $100 if you obtained property or services with a value less than $500
- Up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine in excess of $1,000 if you obtained property or services with a value greater than $500
It is important be made aware of the fact that in the event you wrote multiple bad checks to the same person within a 30-day period, the value of those checks can be added together to impose a harsher penalty. The reason for this is Baltimore, Maryland wants to avoid a situation where a person writes several checks with low amounts to avoid a potentially higher penalty.
How a Baltimore Fraudulent Checks Lawyer Can Help
If you are currently facing a fraudulent check charge in Baltimore, Maryland, you are at risk of facing strict penalties.
Having experienced representation by your side can help to mitigate possible damages while also exploring the dismissal of your case. For example, it is possible that there may be defects in the case being brought against you or that the state simply does not have enough evidence to support its claims.
If you would like to consult with an experienced Baltimore fraudulent checks lawyer, please contact our firm.