Fort Worth Fraud Crime Lawyer

Fraud Defense Guided by a Former Prosecutor with Over 100 Jury Trials

Fraud allegations can arise from alleged deception involving money, property, services, financial records, or identifying information. They may be charged under offense-specific Texas statutes or, depending on the conduct alleged, as federal criminal offenses. Either way, the stakes are serious: potential incarceration, fines, and long-term consequences that extend well beyond the courtroom.

The Alband Law Firm provides criminal defense representation in Fort Worth for people facing fraud investigations and charges. Attorney Navid Alband spent five years at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office before moving to the defense side. We handle matters ranging from state misdemeanors to serious felonies and federal criminal defense.

What Is Fraud in Texas?

Texas doesn’t have a single, all-encompassing fraud statute. Texas Penal Code Chapter 32 contains separate offenses covering fraud-related conduct, including forgery, credit card or debit card abuse, and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. Texas theft law also defines deception to include conduct such as creating or confirming a false impression, failing to correct a false impression, preventing access to material information, or making a promise without the intent to perform. The required mental state and prohibited conduct depend on the specific statute charged.

That distinction matters for your defense. What applies to one fraud-related allegation may not apply to another, and a civil dispute, business disagreement, or failed transaction is not necessarily a criminal fraud offense.

Common fraud-related allegations include:

• Tax fraud
• Insurance fraud
• Healthcare fraud
• Mail fraud
• Credit card fraud
• Internet fraud
• Online identity theft
• Wire fraud
• Fraud involving government benefits (Social Security, welfare, and workers’ compensation)

Other allegations may involve forgery, check fraud, embezzlement, mortgage fraud, or misuse of financial information. Each category may be governed by different state or federal laws, and the evidence, alleged transactions, and claimed losses can differ substantially across these offenses.

Penalties for Fraud in Texas

Penalties for fraud-related charges in Texas vary by the specific offense charged, the value involved, the victim, and the alleged conduct. A single penalty ladder doesn’t apply across every fraud statute. We can help you understand the charges you are facing and the potential consequences associated with your specific case.

Texas insurance fraud offense levels, for example, can vary based in part on the value of the claim, with the statute listing both misdemeanor and felony classifications. Credit card or debit card abuse and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information are addressed in separate Penal Code provisions with their own classification structures. Federal charges are governed by federal statutes and sentencing guidelines rather than Texas state classifications.

Potential consequences across fraud-related offenses can include jail or prison time, fines, restitution, probation, and a criminal record. Depending on the offense and your circumstances, there may also be professional, immigration, financial, employment, housing, credit, or reputation consequences to consider. A charge isn’t a conviction, and the prosecution must prove the charged offense under the applicable legal standard.

Defenses Against Fraud Charges

Intent is central to many fraud-related offenses, so we examine whether prosecutors can prove the mental state required by the charged statute. Potential issues include a lack of intent, such as when an alleged misrepresentation was accidental, as well as mistaken identity, insufficient evidence, or duress (where the defendant was forced or threatened to commit the fraud).

We may also consider whether the defendant was unaware of the fraudulent nature of the conduct or was misled by someone else. Entrapment may apply if law enforcement induced the defendant to commit the fraud. Relevant evidence can include financial records, contracts, invoices, emails, account information, device data, and interview recordings. We may also examine how searches, seizures, and statements were conducted, the chain of custody, and the reliability of financial or digital evidence presented by the prosecution. Each defense depends on the specifics of the case and the statute charged.

Fort Worth Fraud Defense from a Former Tarrant County Prosecutor

Attorney Navid Alband spent five years prosecuting cases at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office before building a criminal defense practice in Fort Worth. That experience on both sides of the courtroom informs how we approach fraud cases: what investigators look for, how prosecutors evaluate evidence, and where the weaknesses in a case may lie.

Attorney Alband has tried over 100 cases to a jury during more than 18 years of legal experience. He is a member of The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40, and holds a 10.0 rating on Avvo. Cases at our firm receive individualized attention. We build defense strategies tailored to the facts, the charged statute, and the specific circumstances of each client. You’re not a case number here.

Fraud Investigations in Fort Worth & Tarrant County

In Fort Worth, the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office prosecutes criminal cases filed in local courts and maintains a dedicated Financial Fraud unit. Cases proceed through local courts including those at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center. Depending on the conduct alleged, fraud cases may also involve state or federal investigative agencies, and charges may be filed in federal court rather than county court.

If you’ve been contacted by investigators or law enforcement, that contact is significant even before formal charges are filed. A voluntary interview can become an important investigative event if a person speaks without counsel and inadvertently provides evidence that is later used against them. You have the right to consult with a defense lawyer before answering substantive questions.

People who want legal advice before an interview can contact an experienced Fort Worth fraud defense lawyer at The Alband Law Firm. We can review the allegations, explain the risks of speaking with investigators, and identify records that should be preserved.

Frequently Asked Questions