by Attorney Eric D. PuryearThe US Federal crime of Wire Fraud is defined in 18 U.S.C. 1343 as follows:
Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
Wire fraud is a serious Federal crime which can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years in most cases, or up to 30 in certain cases. As such, it is vital to properly handle a wire fraud case. A person who is accused of Federal wire fraud is well advised to exercise their right to remain silent and seek an attorney at once.