Brooklyn Welfare Fraud Lawyers.

What is Welfare Fraud?

Welfare fraud happens when you intentionally defraud the government to receive welfare services or payments. Welfare fraud is often committed by individuals, but employees of welfare systems can also do it. In most cases, there is no intention to defraud the government. You may forget to include a part-time job or a change in your living situation. For instance, you can easily omit a decrease in the amount you pay for rent. If you face an accusation of welfare fraud, you should not overlook the charge. A seemingly minor charge can become a huge legal battle. Always consult with a welfare fraud lawyer.

There are several acts that constitute welfare fraud, the most common ones include: failure to report that a child has left home, failure to disclose extra income, making false statements, using fake identification, claiming to be someone you are not, intentionally collecting benefits in more than one state and any other actions that can be deemed as fraudulent.

Criminal Welfare Fraud Defense

Several possible defenses be applied in welfare fraud cases. The defense lawyer will analyze the facts of the case and decide on the best course of action. For a successful conviction, the prosecutor must prove beyond reasonable doubt that your actions were not a mistake. Some of the tried and tested defenses include:

Criminal Intent

Criminal intent is important to prove fraud. You stand to face conviction if the prosecutor can prove that you maliciously intended to defraud the government. The good thing is that criminal motive is not easy to prove. The defense lawyer can cast doubt on the prosecutor's arguments. For instance, one can argue that you forgot to update your status and you had no intention to commit fraud per se.

Lack of Criminal Purpose