Over the past year, incidents of identity fraud have “exploded” in Ohio. According to this report from the Columbus Dispatch, State Troopers have investigated 373 case so far in 2010, a 100% increase from 2009. This is said to be the largest jump in any type of crime the State Patrol handles.

Identity fraud crimes are those which involve using the identity or information of another person to gain property or service that you have no legal right to. This could include taking out a line of credit in someone else’s name or passing a stolen credit card off as your own.

Even using someone else’s name when pulled over or questioned by police can be considered identity fraud. This is particularly common in instances where the suspect has a warrant or is in the country illegally.

But why are identity theft crimes on the rise? No doubt it’s at least partially due to increased awareness. As more and more police are trained to spot identity crimes, their detection and reportable numbers subsequently rise. After all, despite the rise in Ohio, there hasn’t been a similar uptick in the offenses nationwide.

According to the Columbus Dispatch article, though, a spokesperson from the FTC states that lack of good information may be contributing to an inaccurate representation on the national level. She also suggests the recession may be spurring more people to commit such offenses in an attempt to get ahead in a failing economy.

While she makes a common argument, suggesting the economy is to blame, other reports have stated the recession hasn’t had an impact on crime at all.

There’s no doubt these offenses are costly—the price tag for all identity theft crimes in the United States from 2006 through 2008 was an estimated $17 billion—a huge cost to the victims and the public who foots the bill for enforcement.

Years ago, you may have donned a disguise to go to the bank and represent yourself as an account holder in order to gain access to someone else’s money. Now, my guess is the majority of these crimes are done without ever setting foot in a bank, a store, or without having any other face-to-face contact. Instead, it’s all done online, through ATMs and other similar signs of modern times.

You can bet, if caught in violation of an identity fraud offense, you will be prosecuted. Even for the lowest classification of identity theft, you are facing felony charges and a potential 12 months in prison. That penalty gets significantly more severe as the value of your theft increases.

If you are charged with identity fraud or any other related fraud offense, contact us for a free consultation on your case today.

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The former treasurer from Stark County Ohio was sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzlement of public funds.

According to Ohio.com, Vincent J. Frustaci embezzled nearly 3 million dollars in county funds over a 4 year period. He was sentenced to a maximum prison term of 10 years in prison for first degree felony embezzlement under Ohio criminal law.

He will be required to attempt to pay back some of the stolen funds. They will take 25% of his income while in prison, and 20% of his gross earnings after he is released. It is not clear what his actual income earning potential is, either in or out of prison, and it is probably not likely he will ever be able to pay back more than a fraction of that large sum.

Frustaci admitted to having a serious gambling addiction, and blew through most of the money in casinos, much of it at the craps tables.

As is always the case with embezzlement charges, when people go on for years stealing large amounts of money before they are caught, the question of “how did it take so long for anyone to notice” is always asked.

The truth is that independent auditing takes a while to root these things out. If the person entrusted with the money is actively covering up the thefts and obstructing outside investigations, it can take a long time to identify the missing funds.

Maybe that’s why this guy is so angry.

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A nineteen year old Sidney woman was sentenced to 6 months in the Ohio Reformatory for Women after giving police her sister’s name when being investigated on theft charges. According to the Dayton Daily News, the judge said the woman’s actions were a “slap in the face to the criminal justice system.”

This wasn’t the woman’s first run-in with the Ohio criminal courts. She has apparently had contact with law enforcement since as early as the age of 15. Her crime of choice seemed to be theft offenses as the article details her prior run-ins included bad checks, unauthorized use of property, and theft.

The woman was on probation at the time of the latest offense when police were called to Walmart to investigate a theft. There she allegedly gave the investigating officers her twin sisters name and wasn’t identified until an officer came to the scene who had dealt with her on prior occasions.

A life of crime often starts early and if not stopped can spin out of control. The judge likely felt that confinement would be appropriate and hopefully give the convicted woman the wakeup call needed to turn her life around.

On the other hand, this was part of a plea agreement and she originally faced up to one year in prison for the identity theft charge. This goes to show that even in cases of extensive criminal histories, plea agreements can be reached that are mutually beneficial to both parties.

When you are facing charges, whether they are for identity theft, drugs, or even DUI, there are multiple options available to you—even more so if this is your first encounter with the law.

Contact us today to discuss any charges against you and what your potential outcomes could be. Our aggressive defense attorneys, will work tirelessly to ensure you get the best possible results in court.

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An elderly Columbus couple was reportedly scammed by a man posing as a detective. The man and his accomplice entered the home of the couple and possibly made out with an undisclosed amount of money, according to NBC 4.

The couple was driving home from errands when they noticed they were being followed. Upon return to their home a man exited the gold vehicle behind them and introduced himself as a detective, briefly showing them a badge.

The man explained he was looking for a suspect that he believed was in the couple’s house. The couple allowed him to enter where he was joined with a female accomplice. The “detective” asked the elderly man for his cash stating he needed to record serial numbers.

He allegedly asked the couple to come “downtown” with him but they declined. There’s no indication as to the motive of this strange occurrence or if the detective even took the cash with him.

Fraud and theft crimes of this sort are commonly committed against the elderly. They are unfortunately seen as an “easy target” by many. In this particular story, Crime Stoppers has got involved and is on the lookout for both suspects.

Scams like this are frightening. When someone shows you a police badge you want to be able to trust that they are who they say. However, being accused of an offense like this can be equally frightening.

Scams and fraud crimes are typically committed by people who have some level of intelligence. They often see the opportunity to make some money and don’t think they will get caught. Getting busted is the furthest thing from their mind until they are cuffed and charged.

White collar crimes include bad checks, identity theft, and credit card fraud. Fixing the books at work or simply walking out with your employers merchandise is called embezzlement and is also a related charge. All of these offenses carry the potential of several years in prison.

Having a defense attorney you can trust is crucial when up against charges like these. Together we can work to ensure you get the best possible results on your day in court.

Call me today if you are facing criminal charges in the Ohio courts.

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