Fort Worth Credit Card Fraud Lawyer
A charge of credit card fraud can be overwhelming and frightening. Successfully fighting the allegations will require the skill of an experienced Fort Worth credit card fraud lawyer. A seasoned criminal defense attorney will explain your legal options and advise you of the best steps moving forward. We can help you navigate this difficult time and find better days ahead.
What are the Types of Credit Card Fraud in Fort Worth?
Under Texas Penal Code § 32.31, using someone else’s credit card without their permission, purchasing a credit card from someone else, or selling someone else’s credit card constitutes credit card abuse. Other types of credit card fraud that will require the assistance of a Forth Worth lawyer include:
- Intentionally using a credit card that was previously canceled or has expired
- Stealing another person’s credit card
- Intending to use another person’s card without the holder’s permission
- Possessing multiple incomplete credit cards and intending to complete them without the card holder’s permission
- Accepting a credit card with full knowledge that it has been stolen and intending to sell the card, making purchases with it, or delivering it to any individual other than the cardholder
- Using a fake credit card to achieve gains
- Enjoying some form of credit card benefit while knowing that the benefit is gained by fraud
The negative impact of a credit card conviction may extend beyond these criminal penalties, affecting your ability to rent a house or apartment, vote, seek certain types of work, and more. Our team of Fort Worth attorneys can find potential defenses and leverage strong legal arguments in an effort to obtain the best result possible for your credit card fraud case.
What are the Consequences of Credit Card Fraud in Texas?
Credit card fraud crimes in Fort Worth are generally punished as a state jail felony unless the victim was elderly in which it will be elevated to a third-degree felony.
Third-degree felonies are punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine. A state jail felony is punishable by 180 days to two years in a state jail facility and up to a $10,000 fine.
If you or a loved one if facing a credit card abuse charge, it’s imperative to find a credit card attorney in Fort Worth who is well-versed in financial crimes. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Our attorneys are meticulous in their analysis and will leave no stone unturned. They will work to obtain the best possible outcome in an effort to protect your reputation and your freedom.
Credit Card Abuse Defenses
There are a number of ways to defend credit card abuse cases. Many people accused of credit card fraud believe they were authorized to use the alleged victim’s credit or debit card. Lack of intent to obtain a benefit or lack of knowledge of possessing the card are also potential viable defenses. Our attorneys will discuss the facts and circumstances and determine the best defense strategy for you.
Actual Case Results · Varghese Summersett
Varghese Summersett Case Results in Credit Card Abuse Cases
Section 12.44(b) is the difference between a felony record and a misdemeanor, and it has to be negotiated. Every case below is a real matter our attorneys handled and resolved for an actual client of this firm. These are Varghese Summersett’s own results, not hypotheticals, not industry examples, and not another firm’s work. Identifying client details have been removed.
Felony Card Abuse Case Resolved as a Class A Misdemeanor
- Charge
- Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse, Tex. Penal Code 32.31
- Charge level
- State jail felony
- What our client faced
- 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and a fine up to $10,000
- Venue
- Dallas County
- Handled by
- Varghese Summersett
Credit and debit card abuse under Section 32.31 is a state jail felony, which means 180 days to two years and a felony record for a case that often turns on identification. Ours did. Our client was accused of attempting purchases with a card stolen from a locked vehicle, but no video and no eyewitness ever placed her at that vehicle burglary. The identification came weeks later, from investigators comparing clothing and an accessory across bulletins put out by several unrelated law enforcement agencies. We pushed on how reliable that method was for this specific offense and refused to let evidence of later card use stand in for proof that she took part in the break-in. We also developed something the State could not easily discount: before anyone had named her a suspect in this case, she had gone to a different police department and reported being coerced into similar offenses by a group of men, and a family member had separately raised the same concern with investigators. She invoked her right to counsel and gave no statement. Under Section 12.44(b), a state jail felony may in defined circumstances be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor, and that is the treatment we secured.
Result Varghese Summersett obtained: resolved as a Class A misdemeanor with two years of deferred adjudication, removing the state jail felony punishment range and any possibility of state jail confinement.
An accusation is not a conviction. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every case depends on its own facts.
Let an Experienced Fort Worth Credit Card Fraud Attorney Handle Your Case
Given the serious penalties a credit card fraud conviction can carry, it is vital to protect your legal rights and start building your defense immediately. A Fort Worth credit card fraud lawyer will review the allegations and develop the most effective strategies for you. Our team is made up of former prosecutors and board certified attorneys with years of experience. Set up your confidential case review for free by contacting our attorneys at Varghese Summersett today.