Fraud-related charges in Pennsylvania are serious criminal offenses that often involve complex evidence, paper trails, digital records, and financial documentation. A conviction can carry jail time, heavy fines, restitution, loss of professional licenses, and long-term damage to your reputation.
At Stephen Stewart Law, we defend individuals charged with fraud and financial offenses in:
Philadelphia County
Montgomery County
Delaware County
Bucks County
Chester County
If you are under investigation or have already been charged, early legal strategy is critical.
“Fraud” is not a single crime in Pennsylvania. It encompasses multiple statutes within the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. The grade of the offense depends on:
The amount of money or value involved
The number of victims
Whether the conduct was part of an ongoing scheme
Prior criminal history
Whether the alleged conduct involved financial institutions or insurance carriers
Below are the most common fraud-related charges prosecuted in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Identification fraud involves using another person’s identifying information without consent to obtain something of value.
This includes:
Using another person’s Social Security number
Opening accounts in someone else’s name
Using stolen personal data to obtain credit
Assuming another’s identity for financial gain
The grading depends largely on the value obtained:
Lower dollar amounts may be graded as misdemeanors
Higher amounts can result in felony charges
Multiple victims or ongoing conduct may increase exposure
In addition to incarceration and fines, courts often order restitution and may impose probation with strict financial monitoring.
Forgery involves altering or creating a written instrument with intent to defraud.
Common examples include:
Altering checks
Creating fake signatures
Falsifying contracts
Submitting altered legal or financial documents
Forging official documents, public records, or financial instruments often results in felony charges. Even a single forged check can trigger serious consequences if the amount is significant.
Felony forgery may carry up to seven years incarceration depending on grading.
Issuing a bad check generally involves knowingly writing a check with insufficient funds.
Factors that affect grading include:
The dollar amount of the check
Whether multiple checks were involved
Evidence of intent to defraud
Smaller amounts may be charged as summary offenses or misdemeanors, while larger amounts can escalate to felony grading.
Many counties offer pretrial resolution options if restitution is paid quickly, but this is not automatic.
Access device fraud typically involves unauthorized use of:
Credit cards
Debit cards
Account numbers
PIN numbers
Electronic payment systems
The grade of access device fraud depends on the total value obtained within a given period.
Smaller totals may result in misdemeanor charges
Larger totals can become felonies
Use of multiple cards or victims may increase severity
These cases frequently involve digital evidence, transaction logs, and banking records. Early review of the Commonwealth’s financial calculations is essential.
Insurance fraud occurs when someone knowingly presents false, incomplete, or misleading information to obtain insurance benefits.
Examples include:
False injury claims
Inflated property damage
Fraudulent auto accident claims
Staged accidents
Misrepresentation on insurance applications
Insurance fraud charges can vary widely depending on:
The amount claimed
Whether the conduct was repeated
Whether multiple parties were involved
Insurance companies often conduct their own investigations before law enforcement becomes involved. In many cases, clients are charged after an internal insurance review.
While fraud laws are statewide, the prosecution approach can differ by county.
Complex fraud cases may involve financial crimes units and extended investigations.
Cases often include detailed forensic accounting review.
Retail and insurance fraud charges are aggressively prosecuted.
Restitution and negotiation strategies frequently influence resolution.
Felony fraud cases may involve grand jury investigations.
Depending on grading, fraud convictions can result in:
Summary offenses (up to 90 days incarceration)
Misdemeanors (up to 5 years incarceration)
Felonies (up to 7 years or more depending on classification)
Probation
Restitution
Fines
Asset forfeiture
Collateral consequences may include:
Professional license suspension
Employment termination
Security clearance issues
Immigration consequences
Damage to personal and business reputation
Fraud cases often hinge on intent. Potential defenses may include:
Lack of intent to defraud
Mistaken identity
Clerical error or accounting mistake
Lack of knowledge
Unauthorized use by another party
Insufficient proof of value
Constitutional violations during investigation
Every financial crime case requires careful analysis of documents, digital records, and witness testimony.
Fraud investigations often begin long before formal charges are filed. If you are:
Contacted by detectives
Subpoenaed for records
Asked to provide statements
Notified by an insurance investigator
You should speak with counsel before responding.
Statements made during investigations can later be used in prosecution.
What should I do if my loved one or I am charged with a Fraud crime in Pennsylvania? If you or your loved one has been accused of a fraud or identity theft and you would like to get out ahead of it, call 215-650-6500 to discuss your options or get a second opinion from attorney Stephen Stewart. Prosecutors often seek cash bail for individuals accused of serious fraud crimes.
What are the possible sentences if convicted of Fraud in Pennsylvania? The penalties are wide-ranging because there are so many different factors under the Fraud and Identity Theft laws in Pennsylvania. However, most Fraud charges are felonies and can carry significant jail or prison time if convicted. Call attorney Stephen Stewart at 215-650-6500 to discuss your particular situation.
What if my loved one or I already have an attorney? If you or your loved one has already had a court date in a Fraud case, a public defender, a court-appointed attorney, or another privately retained attorney may be on the case. Attorney Stephen Stewart can offer a second opinion and potentially an alternative approach to fighting the charges if you are unhappy with your current representation. Book An Appointment to discuss.
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