Santa Ana, Orange County - Santa Ana police caught Marcus Williams of Los Angeles in an insurance fraud scam. Williams is the vice president of sales for the cell phone company Verizon. He files a police report stating that a 5 carat diamond engagement ring had been stolen from his office. A detective for the Santa Ana Police Department discovered that Williams had taken out several insurance polices and flied four claims. Police soon discovered that the claims that had been filed were for the allegedly stolen ring. When asked about how the ring was stolen, Williams always changed the story.
The claims that were filed for the ring amounted to $400,000. When Williams started to suspect that police had figured out his scam, he told them that the ring had suddenly appeared. When they asked how it appeared, he gave them several different stories. He was then arrested for five felony counts of making fraudulent claims.
Orange County fraud crimes defense attorney Michael Guisti explains California law on charges of making a fraudulent claim and grand theft. He explains that it can be found in the California Penal code section 550(a). It defines the making of fraudulent claims as knowingly present or cause to be presented any false or fraudulent claim for the payment of a loss or injury, including payment of a loss or injury under a contract of insurance. The punishment for making a fraudulent claim varies depending on the amount of the claim. If it is more than $950, the punishment is up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $50,000. The court could also decide to have you pay a larger fine by doubling the amount of the claim. If it is less than $950, then the punishment is one year in prison and a fine of $10,000. Both are charged as a felony in California.
Being charged with a felony fraud charge, grand theft or insurance fraud is a serious offense in Orange County and Los Angeles and dealt with to the highest extent. If you have been charged with grand theft or making a fraudulent claim or any other white collar crime such as health care fraud, insurance fraud, medical fraud, identity theft, check fraud or embezzlement, it is imperative to hire an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer or Orange County white collar defense attorney.
How could retaining a highly qualified Newport Beach criminal attorney or an Irvine white collar defense attorney help you in your grand theft charges or fraud charge defense ?
When first being charged with a fraud charge, it can be overwhelming. Having an silled Orange County theft crime defense attorney who has successful experienced representing clients in both state or federal court can be one of the most important things you do when trying to protect your freedoms. At the Law Office of Michael Guisti, our Santa Ana criminal attorney has spent years representing clients in court rooms all over Orange and Los Angeles County. We also have experience of handling many different types of cases such as appeals, habeas corpus, writs, assault and battery, domestic violence, sex crimes, child molestation, medical malpractice, white collar crimes, gang crimes, and violent crimes. Our Orange County fraud defense attorneys represented clients from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernadino County.
If you or a loved one is being charged with a felony fraud charge and is in need of an experienced Southern California criminal defense attorney call The Law Offices of Michael Guisti. You need to hire an attorney who has been successful in many types of criminal cases like white collar crimes and felony fraud crimes. Contact our Newport Beach criminal defense attorney today at (714)530-9690 or visit our website at www.topcalifornialawyer.com.
