Illinois Credit Card Fraud Defense Attorney
Chicago Criminal Lawyer Michael P. Schmiege can help you if you have been charged with credit card fraud in Illinois. The Illinois Credit Card and Debit Card Act provides severe criminal penalties for offenders convicted of using a credit card, debit card, or account number with the intent to defraud the account holder, issuing financial institution, or person providing goods, services, property, money, or something of value to the fraudulent user of the card or account number. There are a wide variety of activities that can fall under the charge of Credit Card Fraud. A Chicago criminal defense lawyer with practical experience defending Illinois Credit Card Fraud Charges could help you understand the nature of your offense and the penalties you could face.
What Type of Offenses Violate the Illinois Credit Card and Debit Card Act?
An able Illinois Credit Card Defense Attorney like Michael Schmiege could defend you from a broad range of offenses that fall under the Act. The Act applies to the following criminal offenses:
- Using or obtaining a card or account number in violation of the Illinois Credit Card and Debit Card Act.
- Using or obtaining a card or account number without the cardholder’s or account holder’s consent.
- Using a card or account number that the user knows to be forged, counterfeited, expired, or revoked.
- Obtaining or attempting to obtain money, property, goods, services, or something of value by representing themselves to be the holder of a card or account number not actually their own or which has not, in fact, been issued to them.
Penalties for Credit Card Fraud in Illinois
The firm understands that your penalties will vary according to the circumstances of your specific offense. The higher the financial amount involved, and the higher the numbers of victims of the fraud, the stiffer are the penalties you will face. Illinois credit card fraud defense attorney Michael Schmiege cautions that you might face a Class 4 felony charge for a first credit card fraud offense in a minimal financial amount. Or if your charge involves aggravated identity theft, you might face a Class X felony charge involving up 30 years in prison. If your offense involves multiple victims and/or an amount over $50,000, you might be charged under the federal criminal fraud laws. Chicago criminal attorney Michael Schmiege will assist you if you are facing credit card fraud charges in Illinois.
Experienced Chicago Credit Card Fraud Defense Attorney
Chicago credit card fraud lawyer Michael Schmiege will review the circumstances of your offense with you to find bases for winning reduction or dismissal of the charges against you. You might be eligible for probation, supervision, or conditional discharge. Mr. Schmiege has the experience you need in successfully defending Illinois credit card fraud charges. Mr. Schmiege might be able to get your charge reduced from a serious felony to a misdemeanor offense.
Laws involving credit card fraud and financial fraud of all kinds are complex. The laws continue to evolve and change. To maximize your chances of winning your case, you need the experience of a skilled Illinois credit card fraud defense attorney knowledgeable about current laws and penalties for credit card fraud in Illinois.
Chicago lawyer Michael P. Schmiege knows the law and understands the penalties you could face. He will aggressively work to win your case. If you have previous offenses and dismissal of your case is not an option, Mr. Schmiege could seek the sentencing option that avoids or minimizes your jail time and heavy fines.
Contact Chicago criminal lawyer Michael Schmiege today for a free legal consultation/case evaluation to learn the available defenses and legal strategies to beat your charge.
