Frequently Asked Questions

What is a theft crime?

A theft crime is an illegal activity that is committed when a person steals the property of another person without the person’s consent. Theft crimes also occur when a person uses false pretenses or dishonesty to illegally obtain funds from a third party, such as an individual or a company.

What is a white collar crime?

Like a theft crime, a white collar crime is a type of criminal activity that occurs when a person uses false pretenses to illegally obtain funds from a third party. The main difference between a theft crime and a white collar crime is that white collar crimes tend to occur within business settings, at the corporate level. Most white collar crime offenders are people in respectable positions such as executives, directors, managers, and even government officials.

What is fraud?

Fraud occurs when a person intentionally deceives a third party, which results in injury or financial loss for the third party. When a person commits fraud, his/her primary goal is to obtain money under false pretenses. This dishonesty is usually not exposed until way after the person has illegally obtained funds. Once a person has committed fraud, he/she will be subject to criminal prosecution by the Florida law enforcement, district attorneys, and judges. Hager & Schwartz defends all fraud charges including bank fraud, mail fraud, credit card fraud, government fraud, wire fraud, investment fraud, and mortgage fraud.

What should I do if I have been charged with a theft crime?

If you have been charged with a theft crime, you should consult with a qualified theft crimes defense attorney immediately. The penalties associated with a theft crime conviction are extremely severe and can ruin your quality of life for years to come. For this reason, you need to make sure that you obtain proper legal representation from a skilled theft crimes defense attorney who can protect your best interests, like the lawyer at Hager & Schwartz, P.A.

What will happen if I am convicted of a theft crime?

If you are convicted of a theft crime in the state of Florida, you face a variety of harsh legal consequences. The extent and severity of the penalties will depend upon the type of crime you committed and your previous criminal history. If convicted, you may have to spend time in jail, pay fines, be placed on probation or house arrest, and have to do community service. In some cases, you may also have to pay restitution.

What sort of cases does Hager & Schwartz, P.A. handle?

At Hager & Schwartz, P.A., our lawyers handle theft crime cases involving: accounting fraud, auto theft, bank fraud, bribery, burglary, counterfeiting, credit card fraud, embezzlement, forgery, government fraud, theft, wire fraud, extortion, investment fraud, insider trading, money laundering, mortgage fraud, import/export crimes, organized fraud, petit theft, grand theft, and shoplifting.

If you have been charged with a theft crime in Miami, Broward County or a surrounding area, contact a Miami Theft Crime Lawyer at our firm today for legal assistance.