Carroll County Bribery Lawyer

While not a common crime in the state of Maryland, bribery is still a very serious one. While only a misdemeanor, a person convicted of bribery could still be imprisoned for years, and some types of bribery even have a mandatory minimum sentence where the person convicted is required to serve at least two years in jail.

Because the crime of bribery is not very common, it is important you choose a Carroll County bribery lawyer with in-depth knowledge of the subject and experience dealing with these type of bribery and fraud cases. A skilled fraud attorney could build a solid defense for you.

What are the Types of Bribery in Maryland?

Bribery generally involves one party exchanging something of something of value with another party who is offering illegal help or an illegal benefit to the person. When a bribe occurs, there are two guilty parties – the person who offered the bribe, and the person who received the bribe.

The crime of bribery in Maryland is divided into different sections depending on who is being offered the bribe. The four main types of bribery outlaws in Maryland are as follows:

Bribery of a Public Employee

The most common example is also, perhaps appropriately, the first in the Maryland Criminal Code. Under Section 9-201 of the Maryland Code, bribery of a public employee in order to induce or influence their job performance, including bribing a government or public employee to neglect or fail to perform a certain aspect of their job, is illegal. This means that it is a crime to both offer a bribe to a public official and for a public official to receive a bribe. Violation of this Maryland law on fraud could result in imprisonment of up to 12 years, a fine of $5,000, or both. Importantly, the bribery of a public official has a mandatory minimum sentence of two years.

Bribery of a Juror

The next section on fraud in the Maryland Code involves the bribery of a juror, and unsurprisingly outlaws bribing or attempting to bribe a juror for rendering a verdict. Under Section 9-202 of the Maryland Code, a conviction for bribing a juror could result in imprisonment of up to six years, along with being banned from ever serving as a juror. Like the bribery of a public official, this misdemeanor crime also carries a mandatory minimum sentence – although, for a shorter time period of 18 months. A qualified Carroll County bribery lawyer could work tirelessly to mitigate the penalties that an individual may face.

Bribery of a Voter

Under Section 9-203 of the Maryland Code, it is illegal for a public official to give or promise to give a gift or reward to secure a vote. Surprisingly, this is the only bribery law that does not carry a mandatory minimum sentence. Successful conviction of bribing a voter in Maryland could still result in six months of imprisonment, a fine of up to $500, or both.

Bribery in Athletic Contests

Section 9-204 of the Maryland Code deals with bribery related to athletic contests, such as a professional football or baseball game. The law basically outlaws fixing a game and conviction under this statute could result in imprisonment of up to 3 years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

Fraud Related to Public Programs or Public Assistance

Section 8-511 of the Maryland Code criminalizes bribery related to receiving anything paid for (in whole, or in part) by the federal government or Maryland state government. This bribery law basically criminalizes kickbacks and other bribes related to defrauding public programs and public assistance programs. This statute is commonly used to prosecute individuals who have committed Medicaid or Medicare fraud. Depending on the severity of the bribery, violation of this bribery law could result in a felony conviction and up to 20 years in prison.

Working With a Carroll County Bribery Attorney

The consequences of a bribery conviction are severe – with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of over a year for most bribery crimes in Maryland. For this reason alone, you should speak to a Carroll County bribery lawyer. A seasoned fraud attorney could devote the time and resources necessary to build an individual’s case. Contact an attorney today, and know that you are in capable hands.