[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site-shell":3,"site-search-modal-empty-8":171,"page:federal-crimes/federal-fraud":173,"public-chat-settings":291},{"source":4,"siteName":5,"tagline":6,"contactEmail":7,"contactPhone":8,"contactPhoneTollFree":9,"address":10,"mapsQuery":17,"ratingValue":18,"ratingSource":19,"primaryCta":20,"secondaryCta":23,"chatCta":26,"announcement":30,"google":32,"navigationPrimary":34,"navigationLegal":149},"defaults","Stephen D Aarons","Santa Fe Criminal Defense Lawyer","info@aarons.law","(505) 984-1100","(888) 984-1120",{"street":11,"city":12,"state":13,"stateFullName":14,"zip":15,"full":16},"2019 Galisteo St. Ste H1","Santa Fe","NM","New Mexico","87505","2019 Galisteo Street, Suite H1, Santa Fe, NM 87505-2106","https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stephen+D+Aarons,+Attorney+at+Law/@35.6564853,-105.9549988,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x87220cb8d5a8c3c9:0x331b6810ecf42476!8m2!3d35.6564853!4d-105.9524239!16s%2Fg%2F1tn067lx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D",0,"",{"label":21,"url":22},"Call Now","tel:+15059841100",{"label":24,"url":25},"Contact","/contact",{"label":27,"url":28,"statusLabel":29},"Start Chat","#start-chat","24/7",{"enabled":31,"text":19,"ctaLabel":19,"ctaUrl":19,"startAt":19,"endAt":19},false,{"analyticsMeasurementId":33,"tagManagerId":19,"searchConsoleVerification":19,"tagManagerAuth":19,"tagManagerPreview":19},"G-XPE216QNM4",[35,127,133,139,145],{"id":36,"group":37,"label":38,"path":39,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":40,"children":41,"groups":42},"primary-1","primary","Cases","/cases",1,[],[43,58,70,82,97,112],{"label":44,"items":45},"DWI & DUI",[46,49,52,55],{"label":47,"path":48},"DWI / DUI 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Use","/terms",[],{"id":162,"group":152,"label":163,"path":164,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":137,"children":165},"legal-3","Disclaimer","/disclaimer",[],{"id":167,"group":152,"label":168,"path":169,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":143,"children":170},"legal-4","Accessibility","/accessibility",[],{"query":19,"total":18,"results":172},[],{"source":4,"slug":174,"title":175,"status":176,"seoTitle":177,"seoDescription":178,"ogImage":19,"sections":179},"federal-crimes/federal-fraud","Federal Fraud & Financial Crimes | Stephen D Aarons","published","Federal Fraud Defense | Stephen D Aarons","Federal fraud defense in New Mexico. Wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, PPP/CARES Act fraud, and related financial crimes.",[180,188,195,205,224,235,244,261,281],{"id":181,"type":181,"displayOrder":40,"payload":182},"hero",{"eyebrow":183,"title":184,"description":185,"primaryCtaLabel":21,"primaryCtaUrl":22,"secondaryCtaLabel":186,"secondaryCtaUrl":130,"imageUrl":19,"variant":187},"Criminal Defense","Federal Fraud & Financial Crimes","Federal fraud charges cover a broad range of alleged deception — wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud, healthcare fraud, and pandemic-relief fraud, among others. These cases are often built on documents and digital communications gathered over months of investigation, and they frequently involve conspiracy allegations that expand liability beyond the primary actor.","What Happens Next","compact",{"id":189,"type":190,"displayOrder":131,"payload":191},"disclaimer","rich_text",{"eyebrow":19,"title":192,"paragraphs":193,"variant":189},"Important",[194],"This is general information, not legal advice. If an arrest happened recently or you believe you are under investigation, do not explain anything to law enforcement before speaking with counsel.",{"id":196,"type":190,"displayOrder":137,"payload":197},"overview",{"eyebrow":198,"title":199,"paragraphs":200},"Overview","Federal fraud cases are document-driven, often involve conspiracy, and carry substantial sentencing exposure.",[201,202,203,204],"The federal wire fraud statute (18 U.S.C. § 1343) is one of the broadest criminal statutes in federal law. It applies to any scheme to defraud that uses wire, radio, or television communications — which in practice includes virtually all modern electronic activity. Mail fraud (§ 1341) is structurally identical but covers postal and private carrier communications.","Bank fraud (§ 1344) specifically targets schemes to defraud financial institutions or obtain money from them under false pretenses. Healthcare fraud (§ 1347) covers schemes against healthcare benefit programs. Each carries up to 20 years per count; financial institution and emergency relief fraud can carry up to 30 years.","Federal fraud investigations often begin months or years before an arrest. The government assembles records, financial data, email trails, and witness cooperation before presenting to a grand jury. By indictment, the evidence file is typically substantial.","Conspiracy to commit fraud (§ 1349) is charged alongside the substantive counts in most federal fraud cases, extending liability to anyone who knowingly joined the scheme — even without executing a specific fraudulent act themselves.",{"id":206,"type":207,"displayOrder":143,"payload":208},"key-points","feature_grid",{"eyebrow":19,"title":209,"description":19,"numbered":210,"items":211},"Key points",true,[212,215,218,221],{"label":213,"title":214,"description":19},"Wire and mail","Wire and mail fraud are among the most broadly applied federal statutes",{"label":216,"title":217,"description":19},"Conspiracy","Conspiracy charges extend liability to all knowing participants in the scheme",{"label":219,"title":220,"description":19},"Loss amount","Guideline sentencing is heavily driven by the alleged loss amount",{"label":222,"title":223,"description":19},"Restitution","Federal fraud convictions almost always include restitution orders",{"id":225,"type":190,"displayOrder":147,"payload":226},"penalties",{"eyebrow":227,"title":228,"paragraphs":229,"variant":234},"Penalties & Exposure","Penalties and guideline exposure",[230,231,232,233],"Wire fraud and mail fraud: up to 20 years per count. Bank fraud: up to 30 years. Healthcare fraud: up to 10 years (20 if serious injury results). Each count is separate — multi-count indictments can produce theoretical exposure in the decades.","The federal sentencing guidelines for fraud (§ 2B1.1) are dominated by loss amount. A scheme with an alleged loss above $150,000 adds 8 offense levels; above $1.5 million adds 14. The difference between a small and large alleged loss can mean years in guideline range.","Restitution under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (MVRA) is required in virtually all federal fraud cases. Restitution obligations persist until fully paid and can affect finances long after incarceration ends.","Additional consequences: forfeiture of proceeds and instrumentalities; civil parallel proceedings; professional license consequences; immigration consequences in some cases.","alt",{"id":236,"type":190,"displayOrder":237,"payload":238},"defenses",6,{"eyebrow":239,"title":240,"paragraphs":241},"How These Cases Are Defended","Defending federal fraud charges",[242,243],"Challenging whether the alleged representations were materially false; disputing intent to defraud; contesting loss calculations and attribution; challenging conspiracy membership and scope; constitutional and procedural challenges to the investigation and grand jury process.","Loss amount disputes are among the most important sentencing advocacy issues in federal fraud cases. The government's loss calculation methodology is frequently contestable, and reducing the attributed loss amount can dramatically change the guideline range. Good-faith reliance and lack of specific intent are substantive defenses at trial.",{"id":245,"type":245,"displayOrder":246,"payload":247},"faq",7,{"eyebrow":248,"title":249,"description":250,"items":251},"Common Questions","Frequently asked","Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. Every case is different — call for a private consultation.",[252,255,258],{"question":253,"answer":254},"What is \"honest services\" fraud?","Honest services fraud (§ 1346) applies to bribery and kickback schemes involving public officials or private employees who deprive others of their intangible right to honest services. It is narrower than ordinary wire fraud and requires proof of a bribe or kickback, not merely bad business decisions.",{"question":256,"answer":257},"What is PPP/CARES Act fraud?","Pandemic-era fraud cases involve alleged misrepresentations in applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans, EIDL grants, or other relief funds. These cases are prosecuted aggressively and carry enhanced penalties under the CARES Act. The government has dedicated task forces focused on this area.",{"question":259,"answer":260},"If I repaid the money, does that eliminate the fraud charge?","No. Repayment after the fact does not eliminate criminal liability, though it may be relevant to restitution and sentencing. The government looks at whether a fraudulent scheme existed at the time — subsequent repayment does not undo the alleged misrepresentation.",{"id":262,"type":263,"displayOrder":264,"payload":265},"related","promo_cards",8,{"eyebrow":266,"title":19,"cards":267},"Related Practice Areas",[268,272,275,277,279],{"title":269,"body":270,"ctaLabel":271,"ctaUrl":48},"DUI","Drug or combination impairment charges. Dual court and MVD proceedings. Outcomes often hinge on testing procedure.","Learn more",{"title":273,"body":274,"ctaLabel":271,"ctaUrl":48},"DWI","Alcohol impairment with prior convictions. Mandatory minimums escalate with each offense. Early action matters.",{"title":74,"body":276,"ctaLabel":271,"ctaUrl":75},"Possession, distribution, and trafficking. Penalties range widely. Search-and-seizure issues frequently central.",{"title":62,"body":278,"ctaLabel":271,"ctaUrl":63},"State-controlled prosecution. Immediate no-contact orders, firearm restrictions, and custody implications.",{"title":104,"body":280,"ctaLabel":271,"ctaUrl":105},"Technical or substantive violations. Can result in revocation and exposure to original sentence.",{"id":282,"type":283,"displayOrder":284,"payload":285},"cta","cta_band",9,{"eyebrow":286,"title":287,"description":288,"primaryCtaLabel":289,"primaryCtaUrl":22,"secondaryCtaLabel":290,"secondaryCtaUrl":39},"Talk to counsel before the state defines your case for you.","Early decisions often control everything that follows.","If you are under investigation or facing charges, a short, private consult can clarify exposure, options, and next steps. Free consultation. 24-hour answering service. Payment plans available in many cases.","Call 505-984-1100 Now","Browse All Cases",{"enabled":31,"followUpEnabled":210,"title":292,"assistantName":292,"eyebrow":27,"description":293,"welcomeHeadline":294,"welcomeBody":295,"inputPlaceholder":296,"statusLabel":297,"suggestedPrompts":298,"form":302,"review":313},"Aarons Law Chat","Calm first-step guidance for urgent criminal defense questions.","Tell me what is happening.","Keep it general at first. If the situation is urgent, recent, or someone is in custody, call (505) 984-1100.","Tell us what happened in broad terms. Avoid confidential details for now.","Available 24/7",[299,300,301],"Someone was arrested last night. What should we do first?","Can you explain what happens after a DWI arrest in New Mexico?","I need the office to review this chat and follow up directly.",{"enabled":210,"triggers":303,"headline":309,"description":310,"submitLabel":311,"successMessage":312},[304,305,306,307,308],"contact me","call me","follow up","consultation","talk to a lawyer","Request office follow-up","Share a few details and the office can review the chat and follow up directly.","Send Follow-Up Request","Your follow-up request has been sent to the office.",{"enabled":210,"triggers":314,"threshold":143,"geoPreference":210,"clickTracking":210,"askHeadline":323,"askDescription":324,"positiveHeadline":325,"positiveDescription":326,"negativeHeadline":327,"negativeDescription":328,"reviewSites":329},[315,316,317,318,319,320,321,322],"leave a review","write a review","review","feedback","testimonial","google review","yelp","avvo","How would you rate your experience?","Choose a rating so we can route you to the right next step.","Thank you for the kind words!","Would you mind sharing your experience on one of the review platforms below?","We are sorry to hear that.","Tell us what happened and the office can review it directly.",[]]