In California, fraud - intentionally using dishonest and deceptive means to deprive a person of property, achieve some sort of financial gain, or cause injury - is a serious crime with severe penalties. Depending on the money or information taken or damage caused, an offender convicted of fraud crimes in California may face massive fines, lengthy prison sentences, a criminal record, and other devastating social consequences.

If you or your business has been accused of committing fraud, it is paramount that you retain one of our aggressive and highly-skilled California criminal defense attorneys to strategize your defense. At Leet Law, we have the experience, diligence, and resources to represent and defend clients who have been wrongly accused of criminal fraud. Using our extensive legal understanding, we can help you fight back against the charges, refute the allegations against you with substantial evidence, and ultimately protect your future or business.

Our team at Leet Law proudly serves clients across San Jose, California, and throughout San Francisco, Palo Alto, Oakland, and the rest of the Bay Area.

Criminal Fraud in California

According to California Civil Code Section 3294 (3), fraud can be described as "an intentional misrepresentation, deceit, or concealment of a material fact known to the defendant with the intention on the part of the defendant of thereby depriving a person of property or legal rights or otherwise causing injury."

An alleged defendant is considered to have violated California criminal fraud laws by:

  • Committing any unlawful act that results in an unfair benefit for the defendant.
  • Causing harm or loss to another person.


Fraud often takes different forms, but it is mainly driven by a goal to achieve financial gain or escape criminal liability.

Types of Fraud

There are a large number of fraud crimes addressed by different state and federal laws. The common types of fraud include:

  • Check and credit card fraud
  • Securities fraud
  • Forgery
  • Financial fraud
  • Identity theft
  • Business fraud
  • Tax fraud
  • Bank fraud
  • Mortgage fraud
  • Real estate fraud
  • Internet fraud
  • Mail fraud
  • Insurance fraud
  • Wire fraud
  • Multi-level marketing fraud
  • Workers' comp fraud
  • Bankruptcy fraud
  • Medicare and Medi-Cal fraud


When facing any of these fraud crimes allegations, getting proper legal representation is crucial to understand your charges and the potential implications for your future or business. Our experienced attorneys can review the surrounding facts of your case and educate you about the possible penalties and long-term consequences.

Possible Penalties

Several California fraud crimes are considered as "wobbler" offenses and may be charged as either misdemeanors or felony offenses. Depending on the surrounding facts of your case and your criminal history, the possible penalties and consequences for fraud include:

  • Hefty fines
  • Prison sentences (ranging from months, years, or decades)
  • A criminal record/history
  • Probation
  • Increased difficulty in securing employment, housing, or public benefits
  • Community service
  • Restitution to the victims
  • Ineligibility for certain financial loans


Allegations of fraud can be extremely devastating and can jeopardize your career, reputation, or business. Our California criminal defense attorneys will investigate every detail of your case, find any mistakes or flaws in the prosecutor's case against you, and fight vigorously on your behalf to keep your record as clean as possible.

How Legal Counsel Can Help

Defending your fraud accusations without experienced guidance can increase your risks of being convicted and suffering the maximum punishment. With your liberty, quality of life, professional opportunities, or business reputation on the line, navigating the criminal justice system on your own is never advisable. When facing fraud charges, retaining one of our highly-skilled criminal defense attorneys immediately is crucial to protect your legal rights and determine your best defenses.

At Leet Law, we are dedicated to offering comprehensive legal guidance and aggressive representation to clients in white-collar crimes cases, including fraud, forgery, embezzlement, and bribery. As your legal counsel, we can investigate all of the facts of your case and outline an effective defense strategy to pursue the best available outcome for your unique situation.

Using our in-depth legal knowledge, our attorneys will help you navigate the California criminal justice system. We will continue fighting on your behalf to protect legal rights, your business, and ensure that you get fair treatment in every phase of the legal proceedings.

Fraud Defense Attorneys Serving San Jose, California

If you or your business is facing criminal fraud charges, don't face them alone. Contact us at Leet Law today to schedule a simple case evaluation. Our experienced attorneys can offer you the knowledgeable legal counsel, strong advocacy, and reliable representation you need to fight your fraud allegations. We're proud to represent clients across San Jose, California, as well as San Francisco, Palo Alto, Oakland, and the rest of the Bay Area.