Wire Fraud Attorney in Westchester County, NY
Trial-Ready Wire Fraud Defense in White Plains
A wire fraud case often begins with an agent's phone call, a grand jury subpoena, or a frozen bank account, long before an arrest. Portale Randazzo LLP steps in early as your wire fraud lawyer in White Plains, so investigators hear from counsel first.
Our team includes former federal and state prosecutors and a former Chief Investigator for the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, backed by over 150 years of combined experience. We prepare every matter for trial from day one.
What Qualifies as Wire Fraud Under Federal Law
Wire fraud is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, so one email or bank transfer can turn a local business dispute into a federal case. The government must connect three things:
- A Scheme to Defraud: The government must show a plan to obtain money or property through false pretenses or promises.
- An Interstate or Foreign Wire: The communication crossed state lines or national borders, including emails, calls, texts, and transfers.
- A Link to the Scheme: Each wire must have been sent for the purpose of executing the plan.
Prosecutors often add fraud or money laundering counts to a wire fraud indictment. We review each charge separately, because the elements and the exposure differ.
Call (914) 875-2065 or contact us online for a complimentary consultation. Available 24/7. Hablamos español.
Wire Fraud Penalties Under 18 U.S.C. § 1343
Wire fraud is a federal felony carrying up to 20 years in prison. When the scheme affects a financial institution, the maximum rises to 30 years and a fine of up to $1,000,000.
Sentencing in federal court turns largely on the alleged loss, the defendant's role, and personal history. [How a federal wire fraud sentence is decided] covers each factor.
How We Defend Wire Fraud Charges
A wire fraud case rests on documents, messages, and money trails, and each is open to challenge. Our defense work starts with how the government gathered and interpreted the record:
- Intent to Defraud: Prosecutors must prove deliberate deception, so we test whether the evidence shows a knowing scheme or an honest mistake.
- Business Dispute or Crime: A failed deal or broken contract is not fraud on its own, and we press the difference.
- Loss Amount: The alleged loss drives sentencing exposure, so we test how the government calculated the figure.
- Conspiracy and Evidence: In conspiracy to commit wire fraud cases, we isolate your role and review searches for Fourth Amendment violations.
Our former prosecutors know how the government builds these cases. We use this knowledge to find weaknesses early.
Former Prosecutors and Investigators Defending Wire Fraud Cases
Myra Din is a former federal prosecutor who clerked in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She knows how federal agents trace transactions and communications, and how the government calculates loss.
Richard Portale and James Randazzo began their careers as Westchester County prosecutors, and Michael Duffy led 38 investigators as the District Attorney's Chief Investigator.
In a federal fraud case involving more than $1.4 million in alleged losses, Attorney Din separated our client's conduct from the broader scheme, and the court imposed no incarceration and two years of probation.
Read how the sentencing was decided. Past results do not guarantee any outcome.
Speak with a Wire Fraud Lawyer in Westchester County
Early action gives your defense the most options. Portale Randazzo LLP is based in White Plains, near the federal courthouse, and available 24/7.
Call (914) 875-2065 or reach us online to schedule a complimentary in-office or virtual consultation.
