Bank fraud is a common crime in Texas that includes many different facets of fraudulent behavior, such as credit and debit card fraud. According to the Texas Constitution and Statutes website, many financial institutions including banks, credit unions and companies that deal in savings and loans often experience this issue, as there are many ways people abuse these cards and accounts. Taking steps to understand what qualifies as credit and debit card fraud may help Texas con

Health care fraud can lead to serious criminal charges for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. Recently, the U.S Department of Justice announced it had charged a Houston-area pharmacy owner and his accountant for engaging in an illegal fraud scheme. While the prosecution is ongoing, the pharmacy owner and the accountant now face eight-count indictments. These counts include health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering. The healt

The Texas Controlled Substances Act classifies an offense as a felony if law enforcement arrests an individual in a drug-free zone. According to the Lone Star State’s Health and Safety Code, a drug-free zone includes schools, playgrounds and video game or youth recreational facilities. An offense allegedly carried out within 1,000 feet of a school, playground or youth center may result in a felony charge. Drug-free zones also consist of colleges, universities and medical or

While technology makes electronic prescribing easy and efficient, many medical professionals continue to call in prescriptions for patients. Calling the pharmacy is quick and convenient if a patient needs a prescription fast or if a doctor is not in the office. Some people, however, may use this simple way of calling in a prescription to their advantage. What many do not realize is that calling in a fake prescription is a form of drug fraud, which is a federal offense. It of

Many Texans believe if you ask an officer if he or she is a cop, the officer must tell the truth. This is typically not the case, however. In fact, officers throughout the Lone Star State regularly disguise their identities when investigating possible criminal conduct. If officers can legally lie about their identities, you may wonder what other untruths they can tell you. While there are some exemptions, officers may provide misleading information about a wide range of topi

Countering an allegation of fraud charges relating to federal disaster relief funds may require a strong legal defense. In cases involving U.S. government financial assistance, officials may file charges that could include bank fraud, money laundering and wire fraud. A Texas resident, for example, applied for several small business relief loans and allegedly gave banks false information. He received at least $17 million from the federal government for businesses that prosecu

Health care fraud is a very serious crime that can have a long-lasting impact on the lives and livelihoods of others. It is a way for unscrupulous medical professionals to profit off of the suffering of others. This is why the federal government takes these crimes extremely seriously. In fact, one of the biggest health care fraud schemes happened over the course of several years right here in Texas. In January of 2020, a federal jury found that a Texas rheumatologist, Dr. Jo

An unauthorized transaction involving a financial institution may lead to allegations of a serious felony offense. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation protects the funds deposited in an account. As noted on the FDIC’s website, an individual found withdrawing money without permission may face a fraud charge. Whether through a mobile device, ATM or computer terminal, a bank may suspect an unauthorized transfer occurred and provide investigators with the transaction infor

Texas legislators have worked to make prescription fraud more difficult over the past several years. The state requires medical professionals to use prescription pads that make it harder for people to forge a prescription, and the Texas Office of the Inspector General has a program that involves gathering data about diagnoses and written and dispensed prescriptions for certain controlled substances. According to Texoma's Homepage, these measures were not effective at prevent

During the course of any criminal investigation, detectives often want to speak to as many relevant witnesses as possible. Sometimes, individuals who have little or nothing to do with the underlying investigation end up incriminating themselves in the matter or a separate one. Before questioning you, officers typically must advise you of your constitutional right not to incriminate yourself. In addition to having the right to have an attorney present during questioning, you

Most Texas taxpayers never wind up having the Internal Revenue Service audit them after filing their taxes. However, a small percentage of people do have to go through one of three types of tax audits. Finding out the IRS plans to audit you may give you cause for concern, but understanding what the process involves may help put your mind at ease. The Motley Fool reports that there are three main types of audits: audits conducted via mail, in-office audits and field audits. A

When doctors or other health care professionals engage in fraudulent activity, their patients and other innocent victims suffer the repercussions. Because it is such a serious offense, professionals charged with health care fraud in Texas may face an onslaught of legal consequences. When people know the potential consequences of unethical practices, they may have more incentive to avoid fraudulent behaviors. Health care fraud defined When medical professionals knowingly fals

If you face accusations of credit card fraud, you might wonder how seriously the courts treat it. When it comes to laws related to financial entities, keep in mind that when crimes affect banks and investors, the government tends to come to their aid. The local jurisdiction also makes a difference. While some cases still fall into the category of minor offenses, the possibility of prison time still exists. Felony-level charges increase the risk of going to prison. Use of dev

As a provider of durable medical equipment, you may be aware that criminal investigations are ramping up against DME companies across the country. If you sense that your company is a target, what should you do? About DME fraud Durable medical equipment companies provide patients with items such as walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, hospital beds and oxygen equipment. The federal government has stepped up its scrutiny of these companies, taking special note of their bi

When facing a drug charge, the idea of conviction may still seem like a distant concern. If this is a first-time offense, you may even feel like you will get off without much issue. But this is rarely if ever the case. Instead, drug convictions have the potential to do serious damage to your future. In what ways do they impact you, both for the short and long term? Short and long term repercussions According to Westminster College, you can face several long-lasting impacts f

While prescription painkillers, stimulants and CNS depressants help millions of Americans with chronic and acute conditions, they are also a serious problem for those who abuse them. According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 18 million people have abused these drugs at some point within the past year. Of the 70,000 people who died from drug overdoses in 2018, two out of three were from opioids, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After you have paid the dues for your drug crimes in Texas, one of the first things you will need is a job. Getting your life back on track may feel easier and more productive when you have a steady income. Because many employers include specific questions about criminal records on their applications, answering those sections might seem intimidating for you. Understanding how to address your past with professionalism can aid in your effort to get a job. Answering questions A

Like many people in Texas, you may hear reports about health care professionals or health care facilities facing allegations of health care fraud. Some of these cases may center around billing practices and involve private insurance companies or the federal Medicare or Medicaid programs.Anyone working in the health care field may find it interesting and important to understand the things that may lead to these types of assertions. Recent cases provide a plethora of examplesIn

When Texas residents decide to open a business, many strive to create positive working relationships with banks to secure commercial loans. For many entrepreneurs, these loans are necessary for securing property and goods before they can successfully launch their businesses. However, there are some who take advantage of loan programs and knowingly commit bank fraud under the guise of entrepreneurship, as authorities believe a father and daughter did recently. A phantom busin

Prescription drug fraud is a high-profile problem in the United States. Most coverage of this problem tends to focus on consumers who attempt to get drugs without a valid prescription, or on physicians who prescribe drugs too liberally. What happens if a pharmacist steals drugs? Drug diversion by a medical professional is the act of diverting prescription drugs to any use for which those drugs were not lawfully prescribed. Medical professionals, such as pharmacists, nurses,