Bank fraud is an unlawful attempt to gain money, assets, or other property that is owned by a financial institution or by the depositors of a financial institution. Bank fraud is a very serious criminal offense. It can be charged as either a state crime or federal crime depending on the circumstances. In recent years, authorities have been cracking down on bank fraud schemes.
This raises an important question: Is bank fraud a felony offense or a misdemeanor offense? In Illinois, the answer depends on the nature of the bank fraud charge. Though, bank fraud is often charged as a felony. In this article, our Chicago bank fraud defense lawyers provide a more comprehensive guide to bank fraud charges in Illinois.
As a starting point, it is useful to understand how criminal offenses are classified in Illinois. Charges can be split into two general categories: Misdemeanors and Felonies. Here is an overview of the difference between a misdemeanor charge and a felony charge in Illinois:
In Illinois, bank fraud may be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony under state law. The severity of the charge will depend on a number of factors, including the specific nature of the allegations and the amount of money/property that was at issue in the bank fraud case. Here is an overview of bank fraud charges and bank fraud penalties in Illinois:
There are many other charges that are related to bank fraud that can carry even more serious criminal penalties in Illinois. Some notable examples include:
One of the most important things to know about bank fraud cases is that they can be charged as a federal crime. Indeed, the federal government frequently has legal jurisdiction over bank fraud charges—especially when there are allegations of a complex fraud scheme. The primary federal bank fraud statute is 18 U.S. Code § 1344. Under 18 U.S. Code § 1344, one can be charged with federal bank fraud if they knowingly execute or attempt to execute:
Federal bank fraud under this section of the criminal code is a felony offense. It can carry very serious criminal penalties. The maximum penalties for federal bank fraud is a $1 million fine and up to 30 years in prison. Any person facing a federal bank fraud charge in Illinois should consult with an experienced Chicago federal criminal defense attorney.
Facing a criminal charge is stressful and frightening—a bank fraud charge can be especially complicated. You do not have to go up against aggressive police officers and prosecutors alone. At The Law Offices of Vadim A. Glozman, we believe that tough times call for tough attorneys. Our firm has extensive experience handling complex federal and state white-collar crime cases. When you call our Chicago law office, you will have an opportunity to consult with an Illinois white collar crimes defense attorney who can:
At The Law Offices of Vadim A. Glozman, our Chicago white-collar crime defense attorneys have the professional skills and legal expertise to handle the full spectrum of bank fraud charges. If you or your loved one is facing a bank fraud charge, we are here to help. Give us a call at 312.726.9015 to schedule your completely confidential initial legal consultation.
From our Chicago law office, we handle bank fraud charges throughout the surrounding area, including in Cook County, Will County, Lake County, Kendall County, and DuPage County.