Fraud Blocker Chandler Fraud Lawyer - Phoenix, AZ Criminal Defense Attorney & Law Firm - The Law Office of Joshua A. Lopez, LLC

Joshua A. Lopez, Esq.
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Chandler Fraud Lawyer

Fraud charges in Chandler often involve identity theft, check fraud, credit card fraud, and various schemes to obtain money or property through deception. Arizona’s primary fraud statute, Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (ARS § 13-2310), is a Class 2 Felony regardless of amount, carrying potential 12.5 years in prison. For Chandler’s professional workforce—particularly those with security clearances—fraud convictions as “crimes of dishonesty” can permanently destroy careers built over decades.

Attorney Josh Lopez represents clients throughout Chandler facing fraud allegations.

→ For comprehensive Arizona fraud information, see: Arizona Fraud Laws

Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (ARS § 13-2310)

Arizona’s primary and most serious fraud statute:

“Pursuant to a scheme or artifice to defraud, knowingly obtain any benefit by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, promises or material omissions.”

Elements Prosecution Must Prove

  1. Scheme or artifice to defraud — A plan of deceptive conduct
  2. Knowingly — Awareness of the deceptive nature
  3. Obtain benefit — Money, property, services received
  4. False or fraudulent — Misrepresentation or omission

Classification and Penalties

Class 2 Felony — Regardless of dollar amount

Sentence (First) Range
Mitigated 3 years
Presumptive 5 years
Aggravated 12.5 years

Unlike theft, felony classification doesn’t depend on amount—even small fraud is Class 2 Felony.

Other Fraud Offenses

Identity Theft (ARS § 13-2008)

Taking or using another’s personal information without consent.

Victims Classification Prison Range
1-4 Class 4 Felony 1.5 – 3.75 years
5+ Class 3 Felony 2.5 – 8.75 years
Victims 65+ Class 3 Felony 2.5 – 8.75 years

Check Fraud (ARS § 13-1807)

Issuing a check knowing funds are insufficient.

Amount Classification
Under $100 Class 1 Misdemeanor
$100 – $999 Class 6 Felony
$1,000 – $2,499 Class 5 Felony
$2,500+ Class 4 Felony

Credit Card Fraud (ARS § 13-2105)

Using illegally obtained credit card or card known to be forged, expired, or revoked.

Classification: Class 5 Felony

Insurance Fraud (ARS § 20-463)

False statements in insurance claims.

Classification: Class 5 Felony

Common Fraud Scenarios in Chandler

Account and Credit Fraud

Financial account-related fraud:

  • Using payment information without authorization
  • Opening accounts with stolen identity information
  • Credit card number theft and unauthorized use
  • Online account fraud and takeover
  • Payment app fraud (Venmo, Zelle, PayPal)
  • Unauthorized recurring charges

Check-Related Fraud

Check fraud schemes:

  • Writing checks on closed accounts
  • Check kiting schemes between accounts
  • Altered or counterfeit checks
  • Passing bad checks with knowledge of insufficient funds
  • Forging endorsements on checks

Online and Digital Fraud

Internet-based fraud schemes:

  • Marketplace scams (Facebook, Craigslist)
  • Account takeover schemes
  • Cryptocurrency fraud
  • Wire fraud through electronic communications
  • Phishing and social engineering schemes

Business and Employment Fraud

Workplace-related fraud:

  • Employee theft and embezzlement
  • Payroll fraud schemes
  • Invoice manipulation
  • Expense reimbursement fraud
  • Vendor kickback schemes
  • Bid rigging

Insurance Fraud

False insurance claims:

  • Auto accident staging
  • Inflated damage claims
  • False injury claims
  • Premium fraud
  • Application misrepresentation

Investigation Process

How Fraud Is Investigated

Fraud investigations typically involve:

  • Financial record analysis
  • Bank and credit card transaction review
  • Digital forensics of computers and phones
  • Witness interviews
  • Surveillance footage review
  • Cooperation between agencies

Multi-Agency Investigations

Fraud often involves multiple agencies:

  • Local law enforcement
  • FBI for federal jurisdiction matters
  • Secret Service for financial crimes
  • State Attorney General’s office
  • Postal inspectors for mail fraud

Professional Consequences in Chandler

Security Clearance Impact

Fraud is devastating to clearances:

  • Directly demonstrates untrustworthiness
  • Questions integrity and character
  • Clearance revocation nearly automatic
  • Career destruction in technology sector
  • Years of professional advancement lost
  • Federal employment permanently barred

Professional Licensing

Fraud affects licensed professionals severely:

  • Financial professionals — Securities licensing issues, bars
  • Healthcare workers — Board action, license threats
  • Accountants — CPA licensing implications
  • Any profession requiring trust affected
  • License denial or revocation nearly certain

Employment Consequences

Long-term employment effects:

  • Technology employers conduct thorough checks
  • Fraud conviction typically results in termination
  • Permanent disqualification from positions of trust
  • Background check failures across industries
  • Financial services industry permanently closed

Defense Strategies

Lack of Intent to Defraud

Fraud requires knowing deception:

  • Good faith belief statements were true
  • No intent to deceive victim
  • Mistake of fact about circumstances
  • Legitimate business dispute, not fraud
  • Reliance on advice of professionals
  • No knowledge information was false

No Material Misrepresentation

Challenge the deception element:

  • Statement was actually accurate
  • Omission wasn’t material to transaction
  • Victim didn’t rely on statement
  • Statement was opinion, not fact
  • Puffery not actionable

Authorization

For account or identity-related fraud charges:

  • Had permission to use account
  • Reasonable belief of authorization
  • Acting within employment scope
  • Power of attorney existed
  • Agency relationship authorized conduct

Insufficient Evidence

Challenge prosecution’s proof:

  • No direct evidence of knowledge
  • Alternative innocent explanations exist
  • Witness credibility issues
  • Document authenticity questions
  • Circumstantial evidence insufficient

Statute of Limitations

Time-based defense:

  • 7 years for most felony fraud in Arizona
  • Clock may start at discovery of fraud
  • Timely challenge can result in dismissal
  • Date of offense vs. date of discovery

Entrapment

If government induced the fraud:

  • Government created the opportunity
  • Defendant not predisposed
  • Excessive inducement

Crime of Dishonesty Consequences

Fraud creates “crime involving moral turpitude” status with far-reaching effects:

Employment:

  • Disqualification from financial positions permanently
  • Background check failures across industries
  • Loss of positions of trust
  • Security clearance bars
  • Government employment prohibited

Professional Licensing:

  • Denial of new license applications
  • Revocation of existing licenses
  • Affects virtually all regulated professions
  • Character and fitness concerns
  • Permanent career barriers in licensed fields

Immigration:

  • Deportation proceedings for non-citizens
  • Inadmissibility to United States
  • Naturalization denial
  • Visa revocation
  • Travel restrictions

Civil Consequences:

  • Restitution orders to victims
  • Civil lawsuits by victims
  • Judgment collection
  • Bankruptcy limitations
  • Asset forfeiture in some cases

Chandler Courts

Southeast Regional Superior Court

Location: 222 E. Javelina Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85210

Handles felony fraud charges from Chandler. Most fraud offenses are felonies, so Chandler Municipal Court rarely handles fraud cases.