Healthcare fraud can carry serious criminal consequences. While trillions of dollars are paid for much-needed treatments and surgeries, billions are lost to criminal activity based on data from the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA), Depending on...
Month: August 2014
How accurate is eyewitness testimony?
When you face a California criminal charge for a violent, drug-related or another type of offense, eyewitness accounts may play a big role in determining whether that charge leads to a conviction. Many judges and juries find eyewitness testimony among the most...
What makes manslaughter different from murder?
If you are facing a criminal charge based on a homicide, you should pay attention to the specific nature of the charge. Murder is not the only criminal offense based on a homicide. A prosecutor may decide that manslaughter is the more appropriate charge. Whether...
Do you have to serve time for tax evasion?
When you earn income by working or investing, you have a legal obligation to pay taxes on the income you receive each year. If the IRS believes that you underreported your income or understated what you owed, it may charge you with tax evasion. According to H&R...
Money laundering: What you need to know
Money laundering is a crime based on the concealment or disguise of the proceeds of illegal activities. It is a complex process that typically involves a number of transactions designed to hide the origin of the funds and make them appear legitimate. How money...
Understanding the difference between assault and battery
Many people think that assault and battery are the same charge. However, California treats them as separate crimes and their definitions vary. Although one can face both an assault and a battery charge, one will only face a penalty for the greater crime, which is...
How companies are implicated in internet crimes
The damage cybercriminals inflict does not always stop with the direct victim of the crime. Companies that have not sought to hurt anyone can nonetheless become caught up in an internet crime scheme. If law enforcement suspects that a business willingly allowed...
Questions about mail fraud and wire fraud
Mail fraud occurs when a person uses the mail to pursue a scheme that involves lies or omissions with the intent to defraud others of money, property or services. Wire fraud is an attempt to obtain money or goods through fraud or false pretenses through the use of...
Common types of healthcare fraud
Healthcare fraud is common. It occurs in various ways. Healthcare providers may face fraud charges because they purposely take illegal actions. However, simple mistakes or inattentiveness may also result in charges. Providers are not the only ones who might face...
Understanding the difference between tax avoidance and evasion
Taking steps to reduce the taxes you owe is not necessarily a crime. There are many legal avenues available to minimize tax liability. There is a difference, however, between tax avoidance and tax evasion. The penalties for a tax evasion conviction can be severe. Tax...