Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Three people recently pleaded not guilty to charges that they conned banks out of about $6 million by pledging properties they didn't own and faking paperwork to support the claims, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

Federal charges in Los Angeles are among the most difficult to defend, not necessarily because of the facts, but because of the power of the federal government. But Los Angeles Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys regularly challenge cases in federal court on behalf of defendants who are wrongly accused. Everyone deserves a fair trial and a diligent defense that seeks to prove the client innocent.

According to the news story, two brothers and another man were arrested and charged with conspiracy and multiple counts of wire fraud, identity theft and unlawful monetary transactions. These charges amount to a possible 115-year prison sentence, according to the report.

A federal indictment, which isn't any proof of a crime, alleges the men created fraudulent deeds of trust, corporate records and other documents that made it appear they held the title to and owned certain properties.

The indictment also alleges they fabricated documents to create the impression that other loans on the properties had been paid off and that there was sufficient equity in the properties to secure new loans.

Prosecutors allege the men put pressure on lenders to act quickly because funds were needed for less than a month so they could extend a pre-existing escrow and that the money would be returned. But the government contends that after victims wired money, it was sent to off-shore bank accounts.

While the allegations may seem like some to be a slam-dunk case for the government, it's not necessarily so. In order to prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt, the government will no doubt try to convince one or two of the three accused to enter plea agreements in order to get their testimony.

In cases like this with multiple defendants, the prosecution spends a large amount of the time seeking testimony from people they have charged with a crime in order to secure convictions. Many times, if all defendants keep quiet and don't help prosecutors, they can't secure convictions.

The credibility of a witness whose testimony has been purchased through a plea deal must be attacked and shown to a jury as questionable. Further, the government must have all its ducks in a row regarding financial statements and other business records, which can be a complex process.

While these charges can no doubt be challenged, facing the federal government can be tough because agents have the ability to pick and choose which cases they want to tackle and put the full force of the government behind them. That's why hiring an experienced Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer who has spent years fighting in the federal court system is important. Trust experience and knowledge of the system and an attorney who will fight to protect your rights and work to secure the best possible resolution in your case.