Austin Texas Criminal Defense Blog
Soda pop mail-in-rebate fraud charges result in probation
Fraud Two Texas residents admitting to mail fraud charges involving soda pop rebates each received a sentence consisting of probation without jail time. Federal fraud offenses generally include incarceration and large fines. The two individuals, however, entered into...
What is the voluntary disclosure practice?
Voluntary Disclosure With the emergence of spring also comes tax season. If you live and work in the U.S., you have a legal obligation to comply with the nation’s tax laws. Should you fail to file or pay your taxes each year, you may face serious consequences,...
What are some examples of prescription fraud?
While there are many different types of fraud, the opioid crisis in the United States is causing increased cases of prescription fraud. Reuters reports that nearly 60 people in Texas currently face charges stemming from this type of crime, with other instances...
How doctors can fight health care fraud
Health care fraud costs the nation billions of dollars every year. If you are a physician involved in health care fraud, even by mistake, your livelihood is at stake. The complexities private, local, state and federal regulations are difficult to understand. As a...
What is doctor shopping?
It is not uncommon for a primary care physician to refer patients to specialists if they require individualized care in a specific area. In fact, some patients may have a few doctors caring for them at any given time. Yet, when patients seek the care of many doctors...
What is money laundering?
During America’s prohibition era, Illegal alcohol sales allowed crime syndicates to gain vast amounts of money. Mobsters used money laundering to hide their tracks and give law enforcement the slip. Anti-money laundering laws do prevent many criminals from using these...
Authorities accuse doctor of running healthcare fraud scheme
Stories of fraud being committed by people in Austin can often stir up emotion (particularly when those who are the targets of such accusations are seemingly well off financially). In such situations, it may be easy for authorities to turn public opinion against those...
Health care fraud when services are not medically necessary
Under the False Claims Act, prosecutors may charge health care professionals with Medicare fraud for submitting a claim for services that a patient does not actually need. Even without the intention to defraud the government, if a medical professional knowingly or...
Defining federal crimes
State laws cover most crimes, such as murder or theft. State laws can be about almost anything, as long as the law is constitutional. This gives rise to many funny state laws, like making it illegal to sell your own eyeball in Texas. Federal crimes, however, tend to...
Did I waive my right to remain silent?
Your right to remain silent would likely be one of your most important protections should you ever come under investigation for any type of fraud. Especially in cases that could involve federal courts, such as bank fraud, it would be important to understand this...
