Okabe & Haushalter
Call Today! 310-543-7708
Call Today! 310-543-7708
Okabe & Haushalter

Palo Alto Bank Fraud Defense Attorney

Facing a criminal charge like bank fraud can be a frightening experience. Allegations like these can carry both state-level and federal-level penalties, possibly resulting in years behind bars and steep, court-mandated fines. The threat of the life you worked so hard to build being pulled out from under you like a rug can be beyond anxiety-inducing. However, just because you have been charged with a criminal offense does not mean you give up your rights. One of those rights is to have a defense attorney by your side in court as you face down these allegations. If you want the best bank fraud lawyer in Palo Alto, contact one of the experienced attorneys at Okabe & Haushalter for a free consultation today.

What is bank fraud?

Bank fraud is defined as any attempt to defraud a bank or to defraud another party by using a financial institution. For example, check fraud in which the payee is doctored in order to enable the person committing the fraud to add their own name as the payee so that they can have access to the funds disbursed via the check could be charged with bank fraud, as the bank that issues the check controls the funds released by the check. As such, this form of check fraud could be considered bank fraud.

Bank fraud may be prosecuted at the federal level

Section 1344 under Title 18 of the United States Code governs the criminal offense of bank fraud. This means that any alleged act construed to be the defrauding of a financial institution could be prosecuted as a federal offense. On top of this, bank fraud could be prosecuted at the state level under the California Penal Code, as well.

What are the penalties for bank fraud?

Bank fraud is taken very seriously, and the penalties that people convicted of this crime face could be even harsher than those faced by many violent criminals. The crime of bank fraud can be punished with a fine of up to 1 million dollars, and up to 30 years in a federal penitentiary, depending on the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime and the amount of funds involved in the alleged fraud.

Okabe & Haushalter can advocate for you in criminal court

If you have been charged with a crime related to defrauding a financial institution and you need a bank fraud lawyer in Palo Alto, the aggressive defense attorneys at Okabe & Haushalter can assist with your case. We have earned our reputation for providing our clients with nothing short of courtroom excellence, and we will fight the charges leveled against you. We play hardball in the courtroom, and our rock-solid defense strategies have a proven track record of getting our clients desired results. We will work to reduce stacked charges or get charges thrown out entirely, so you can get back to living the life you deserve sooner. Call today for a free case evaluation.