South Carolina Government Program Fraud Lawyer

Strict laws regulate programs that receive federal funding. Committing fraud against these programs can lead to severe criminal penalties. Federal authorities aggressively prosecute these charges, and a conviction can have lasting consequences on your life and freedom. Even taking relatively small amounts of money from a government program through unscrupulous means could lead to years in prison.

To potentially avoid these types of consequences, you should speak with a South Carolina government program fraud lawyer as soon as possible. With the care and attention of a dedicated fraud attorney, you could build an effective defense tailored to the circumstances of your case.

What Is Government Program Fraud?

These charges involve someone committing a fraud offense against a federally funded program. These crimes usually consist of someone presenting false information to a program or agency to get money or services which they otherwise would not be entitled to.

18 U.S. Code § 666 defines how the federal government treats program fraud. Deception, fraud, coercion, or misrepresentations may result in fraud charges. A person may also be guilty of government program fraud when they:

• Embezzle, steal, or otherwise obtain property owned by a federal program through fraud
• Solicit or demand something of value from a government program through fraud
• Agree to accept or be influenced by bribes to provide government program services or products

Under this statute, fraud offenses against government programs can take many forms and involve a variety of actors and entities, including defense contractors, Medicare, and welfare programs. As a South Carolina attorney could further explain, whenever a person steals from a government program by providing false information or other fraudulent conduct, they may face significant criminal penalties at the federal level.

Potential Penalties for Government Program Fraud

The federal government will often seek both criminal and civil penalties against the defendant for alleged fraud. These penalties can be very high and are in addition to the typical order that a convicted person reimburse the program they defrauded for its losses. Federal law also establishes a prison sentence of up to ten years for those convicted of this offense. A defendant could face charges for multiple instances of fraudulent conduct that stack to create even longer prison sentences.

That being said, fraud charges are only allegations—they are not definitive proof that a crime took place. Like any other criminal allegation, the prosecutor must show the defendant had intent. The prosecutor must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant acted with a specific mindset to defraud a public entity with the knowledge they would not otherwise be entitled to receive benefits. A seasoned lawyer in South Carolina understands what it takes to build a defense against these charges and could work to gather evidence demonstrating the defendant did not act with active knowledge and intent to defraud a government program.

Call a South Carolina Attorney to Defend Against Charges of Government Program Fraud

Allegations that you have intentionally committed a fraudulent act against a government program could lead to severe penalties with a conviction. You are entitled to defend yourself against these charges to try and prove your innocence. A dedicated legal team could have the knowledge and experience you need to protect your constitutional rights.

A South Carolina government program fraud lawyer could provide peace of mind knowing you have the benefit of seasoned legal counsel on your side. Start building your defense by calling today.