Birrell Law Firm Blog - MN Criminal Defense Attorneys

November 19, 2019

When Does Embezzlement Become a Felony, and What are the Consequences?

Embezzlement is typically a misdemeanor, but becomes a felony charge based on the value of what is being embezzled. The requirements for enhancing a misdemeanor embezzlement charge to a felony embezzlement charge varies by a state’s local jurisdictional rules; however, many state laws classify embezzlement crimes into tiers, with a […]

November 17, 2019

What Are Other Consequences of Illegal Insider Trading?

Insider trading is a complex area of federal law and can often result in related criminal charges being brought against you. For example, you may also face prosecution for any of the following: • Bank fraud; • Wire and mail fraud; • Computer fraud; • Securities fraud; • Tax fraud; […]

November 17, 2019

What kinds of penalties are imposed for Insurance Fraud?

Insurance fraud can generally be divided into two categories, known in the industry as “soft fraud” and “hard fraud.” • Soft fraud occurs when a person exaggerates an existing claim, such as overstating the damages caused by a car accident. Soft fraud is usually considered a misdemeanor, punishable by fines, […]

November 11, 2019

What Are The Elements of Wire Fraud?

Wire fraud is similar to regular fraud, except that it takes place over phone lines or involves electronic communications. The legal definition of wire fraud has four elements: • The defendant created or participated in a scheme to defraud another out of money or property; • The defendant did so […]

November 7, 2019

What Does an Identity Theft Attorney Do?

Identity theft is the type of crime that can cause significant damage that lingers for many years, especially when it results in a negative credit history or reputational harm. Because of this, it’s important to take immediate action to protect yourself if you find that your identity has been stolen. […]

November 7, 2019

What Are The Penalties of Securities Fraud?

Securities fraud, also known as investor or stock fraud, covers a range of activities that violate federal and state laws pertaining to buying, selling and trading securities. The most common forms of securities fraud include: • Misrepresentation (presenting misleading or false information to investors about a company, or its securities) […]

November 7, 2019

What is considered embezzlement?

Embezzlement is defined as the act of theft or misappropriation of funds placed in the trust of someone, such as funds that belong to an employer. In essence, when a person entrusts their property to another person, but the person in possession of the property unlawfully converts the ownership rights […]

November 7, 2019

What is The Difference between criminal tax evasion and civil tax fraud

Tax fraud as a general matter is very difficult for the government to prove because they have the burden to show the court that the taxpayer has intentionally defrauded the government out of tax revenue. Proving that a taxpayer knowingly violated the highly complicated Internal Revenue Code is a very […]

October 28, 2019

Can you go to jail for bank fraud?

If you’re concerned that you or a loved one are in violation of federal banking regulations, it’s helpful to learn what kinds of acts are considered bank fraud. There are also some issues that the state considers bank fraud. Most bank fraud statutes fall into the forgery category. For example, […]