Credit Card Fraud Criminal Defense Lawyer in Charleston, SC

South Carolina law covers a range of conduct that involves the use of another person’s credit cards, personal information, or other types of identity theft to take money or property, including:

  • Financial identity fraud;
  • Credit card fraud;
  • Identity theft;
  • Phishing or hacking personal information through the internet; and
  • Forgery.

Many financial identity crimes end up in federal court instead of state court, like wire fraud and conspiracy charges – whether you are charged in federal or state court in Charleston, SC, Grant B. Smaldone will help you to investigate your case, get your charges dismissed, find the best possible outcome, or try your case to a jury.

What are the Penalties in SC for Credit Card Fraud?

The penalties for credit card fraud and identity theft in SC can vary depending on which statute the defendant is charged under – for example, financial identity fraud in SC carries up to ten years in prison for each count, and forgery charges for financial transactions can carry either five or ten years, depending on the dollar amount involved.

The sentence for financial crimes in federal court will depend on a person’s prior record, the facts of each case, and the total amount of the alleged loss. The dollar value assigned to each case for purposes of sentencing in federal court is usually not just the dollar value for the defendant’s own case, but the total of all losses attributed to every person charged in the same conspiracy…

How Do I Defend Against Credit Card Fraud Charges?

Whether you are in state or federal court, your criminal defense lawyer will get all evidence that the prosecutor intends to use against you and do an independent investigation to find favorable evidence that the prosecutor either isn’t revealing or doesn’t know about.

An effective defense investigation may require the use of investigators and expert witnesses who can assist in examining the government’s evidence, analyzing computer hard drives, or locating and interviewing witnesses.

Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft Defense in Charleston, SC

Whether you have been charged with financial crimes in state court or federal court in Charleston, criminal defense lawyer Grant B. Smaldone has the experience that you need to investigate and defend the charges. Call now at (843) 808-2100 or fill out our online contact form to set up a free consultation about your case.