Fraud

Brief comparison of false statement and false claims statutes

April 6, 2011
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A prosecution for making a false statement to the federal government is usually based on Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001. This is the false statement statute that makes it a crime to knowingly make a false statement to the United States government or an employee thereof. 18 USC 1001 is used to prosecute [...]

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An overview of federal money laundering statutes

February 6, 2011
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The United States government keeps close watch on financial activity both for tax collection purposes and also for law enforcement. Tracking the flow of cash through small businesses has proven to be a useful tool for federal agents investigating large scale criminal organizations. Money laundering, generally, is the practice of using a business to conceal [...]

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Mail fraud charges under federal law

December 11, 2010
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Of all the federal charges filed by the United States Attorney, probably the most frequently used charge in white collar criminal cases would be mail fraud. The mail fraud statute is Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. The reason for its prevalence in white collar prosecutions is that it applies to almost any scheme [...]

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Conspiracy to defraud the United States: elements and sentencing

December 4, 2010
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The federal conspiracy statute is Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Conspiracy is the agreement to commit a criminal offense. A conspiracy charge has penalties in addition to those for the offense that was agreed upon. The federal statute establishes two types of conspiracies: Conspiracies based on an agreement to commit a federal offense; [...]

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