Criminal Defence
Fraud & Dishonesty Offences
Fraud, dishonesty and white-collar allegations, defended with attention to the paper trail.
Fraud and dishonesty allegations turn on documents, transactions and what a person intended. They are often built from large volumes of financial material, and the prosecution's theory of what happened is not always what the records actually show.
City Group Legal defends fraud, larceny and dishonesty charges from Local Court matters to complex District Court prosecutions, working through the evidence to test intent, knowledge and the reliability of the Crown case.
What's at stake. Dishonesty offences carry a wide range of penalties. Fraud under s 192E of the Crimes Act carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment; larceny and other dishonesty offences vary with the amount involved and where the matter is heard.
How we defend fraud & dishonesty offences
We scrutinise the financial evidence, the alleged dishonest intent, and whether the Crown can prove knowledge rather than error or authorisation. Where restitution, delay or personal circumstances are relevant, we prepare them properly for sentence. Early, careful preparation of a fraud brief often changes the charge or the outcome.
Frequently asked
Is fraud always a gaol offence?
No. Outcomes range from good behaviour bonds and community orders to full-time custody, driven by the amount, the sophistication, any restitution and your record. Strong preparation for sentence matters a great deal.
The amount is small, does that help?
It can. The value involved, whether it has been repaid, and the circumstances all affect both the charge and the penalty. These are matters we develop early.
Can I avoid a conviction being recorded?
Sometimes. For less serious dishonesty matters a court can deal with the offence without recording a conviction, taking into account your character, your prior record and the circumstances. Whether that is realistic depends heavily on the amount involved and how the matter is prepared.
Police want to interview me about a fraud allegation. What should I do?
Get advice before you take part. You are generally not obliged to answer questions beyond identifying yourself, and in document-heavy matters an account given from memory, without the records in front of you, can create problems that are difficult to undo later.
Every stone turned. Every avenue pursued.
Whether you’ve been charged, arrested, or are helping a family member, the earliest advice is the most valuable.