Credit Card fraud, identity theft, and passing bad checks are similar financial fraud charges in Ohio. Financial crimes like this (including embezzlement) are typically committed by people under financial stress. Although financial stress is no defense for a criminal act, it does help to explain your actions, and may be a consideration in working out a plea deal or at sentencing.
More than likely this is your first experience in the Ohio criminal courts. It probably seems that everyone has already judged you and made assumptions about your guilt. When you are up against charges like this, you need an experienced Ohio defense attorney to fight for you and represent your interests in court.
We have handled many bad checks and fraud cases in the Ohio criminal courts and have probably handled a few just like yours. However, we know that all cases are different and we are interested in learning about yours.
So please contact us today to talk about your legal problems. Our initial consultation is free.
Ohio Bad Checks Laws & Criminal Penalties
As with every other state in the country, it is illegal to pass bad checks in Ohio. If you know that the check will not be honored by the bank or if you stop payment on a check, you can be charged with this offense.
This means that if you write a check on a closed account or even write it on an account where there are insufficient funds, you can be charged criminally.
The charge you face depends on the value of the check passed.
| Check Value | Criminal Charge | Maximum Sentence |
| Up to $500 | 1st degree misdemeanor | Up to 6 months in jail and $1,000 in fines |
| $500- $5,000 to a single vendor or person | 5th degree felony | 6-12 months in prison and up to $2,500 in fines |
| $1,000-$5,000 to multiple vendors or people | 5th degree felony | 6-12 months in prison and up to $2,500 in fines |
| $5,000- $100,000 | 4th degree felony | 6-18 months in prison and up to $5,000 in fines |
Ref: ORC 2913.11
Misuse of Credit Cards in Ohio – Criminal Laws & Penalties
This charge encompasses many offenses related to credit card fraud. You may be charged with misuse of a credit card if you:
- Knowingly buy or sell a credit card to or from someone other than the intended user,
- Practice deception to obtain a credit card,
- Obtain a credit card from someone as security for a debt,
- Use an expired or revoked credit card to gain something of value, or
- Represent yourself as the original issuer of a credit card when you know that representation is false.
Typically misuse of a credit card is a 1st degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and fines reaching $1,000.
However if you are involved in more than one violation of this law within a period of 90 days, your charge could be elevated as high as a 4th degree felony dependant on the value of the property or services illegally obtained. A 4th degree felony carries a potential sentence of 6-18 months in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.
Ref: ORC 2913.21
Ohio Identity Fraud – Laws & Penalties
A fairly recent law, identity fraud has grown incredibly over the last two decades. You may be charged with this offense if the prosecution believes they can prove that you were in possession of personal identifying information of another person with the intent to:
- Represent yourself as the other person, OR
- Use the indentifying information as your own.
The charge you face depends on the value that the misrepresented person or victim was defrauded from.
| Value | Charge | Sentence |
| Up to $500 | 5th degree felony | 6-12 months in prison and up to $2,500 in fines |
| $500- $5,000 | 4th degree felony | 6-18 months in prison and up to $5,000 in fines |
| $5,000-$100,000 | 3rd degree felony | 1-5 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines |
| More than $100,000 | 2nd degree felony | 2-8 years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines |
Ref: ORC 2913.49
Bad Checks or Credit Card Fraud Charge? Free Ohio Criminal Defense Consultation
All white collar crimes like bad checks, identity theft and credit card fraud are taken very seriously in Ohio criminal courts. If you are facing any of these charges or another charge that you have questions about, call for a consultation today with our team of legal professionals.
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