Criminal Defense Lawyers

Brooklyn Welfare Fraud Lawyers

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

You may find yourself in a situation where you simply helped someone fill their welfare form without knowing they lied to you. If you are charged with fraud, the defense lawyer can argue that you did not have a criminal purpose, you merely helped someone without knowing that they had intentions to defraud.

Christine Twomey

2024-03-21

Just had my Divorce case settled 2 months ago after having a horrible experience with another firm. I couldn’t be happier with Claire Banks and Elizabeth Garvey with their outstanding professionalism in doing so with Spodek Law Group. Any time I needed questions answered they were always prompt in doing so with all my uncertainties after 30 yrs of marriage.I feel from the bottom of my heart you will NOT be disappointed with either one. Thanks a million.

Brendan huisman

2024-03-18

Alex Zhik contacted me almost immediately when I reached out to Spodek for a consultation and was able to effectively communicate the path forward/consequences of my legal issue. I immediately agreed to hire Alex for his services and did not regret my choice. He was able to cover my case in court (with 1 day notice) and not only was he able to push my case down, he carefully negotiated a dismissal of the charge altogether. I highly recommend Spodek, and more specifically, Alex Zhik for all of your legal issues. Thanks guys!

Guerline Menard

2024-03-18

Thanks again Spodek law firm, particularly Esq Claire Banks who stood right there with us up to the finish line. Attached photos taken right outside of the court building and the smile on our faces represented victory, a breath of fresh air and satisfaction. We are very happy that this is over and we can move on with our lives. Thanks Spodek law 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼❤️

Keisha Parris

2024-03-15

Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.

Taïko Beauty

2024-03-15

I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence. Thank you team!

Anthony Williams

2024-03-12

Hey, how you guys doing? Good afternoon my name is Anthony Williams I just want to give a great shout out to the team of. Spodek law group. It is such a honor to use them and to use their assistance through this whole case from start to finish. They did everything that they said they was gonna do and if it ever comes down to it, if I ever have to use them again, hands-down they will be the first law office at the top of my list, thank you guys so much. It was a pleasure having you guys by my side so if you guys ever need them, do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call.

Loveth Okpedo

2024-03-12

Very professional, very transparent, over all a great experience

Bee L

2024-02-28

Amazing experience with Spodek! Very professional lawyers who take your case seriously. They treated me with respect, were always available, and answered any and all questions. They were able to help me very successfully and removed a huge stress. Highly recommend.

divesh patel

2024-02-24

I can't recommend Alex Zhik and Spodek Law Firm highly enough for their exceptional legal representation and personal mentorship. From the moment I engaged their services in October 2022, Alex took the time to understand my case thoroughly and provided guidance every step of the way. Alex's dedication to my case went above and beyond my expectations. His expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to mentor me, ensuring I understood the legal complexities involved to make informed decisions. Alex is the kind of guy you would want to have a beer with and has made a meaningful impact on me. I also want to acknowledge Todd Spodek, the leader of the firm, who played a crucial role in my case. His leadership and support bolstered the efforts of Alex, and his involvement highlighted the firm's commitment to excellence. Thanks to Alex Zhik and Todd Spodek, I achieved the outcome I desired, and I am incredibly grateful for their professionalism, expertise, and genuine care. If you're in need of legal representation, look no further than this outstanding team.

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Mistaken Application

If you had someone fill out the form for you and they made a mistake, then you can be charged with fraud. A good defense lawyer will show that you had no malicious intent and this was a simple mistake or omission. Even for such minor charges, you still need to seek legal assistance. While to you it may be an honest mistake, the judge may not see things your way. A lawyer helps to tell your narrative, and you can avoid a conviction.

Always remember that you are innocent until proven guilty. A good lawyer will seek strategies to erode the arguments made by the prosecutor. This is why you must consult with one immediately an investigation is underway. Do not wait too long as this will compromise the quality of defense you may get.

Fight Back the Charges with the Help of a Welfare Fraud Lawyer

Sadly, most people do not fight back when they are charged with welfare fraud. Most people agree to pay the fine. This is dangerous because you cannot preempt what the exact charge is likely to be in your case. You have every right to good defense, and you should exercise this right. The government has been known to intimate people using paperwork. Prosecutors use heavy-handed strategies in an attempt to prove guilt. This can leave you feeling hopeless, especially after you go through interrogations and interviews. They may also threaten to go to court.

An experienced defense attorney can battle it out in court even with the most aggressive prosecutor. Any of their tactics will not intimate them. On your own, you may not have the legal expertise and experience needed to go against the prosecutor. The fine amounts on such charges can be double the amount you fraudulently received. Repeat offenders can face a prison sentence of up to 15 years. You also risk being removed from the welfare program. Evidently, there is so much at stake when it comes to such cases. Your best defense is to have a welfare fraud lawyer in your corner fighting for you.

Don’t deal with Brooklyn Welfare Fraud Lawyers alone. Speak to the Spodek Law Group today.

Brooklyn Welfare Fraud Lawyers

There are several different types of welfare programs in New York, and misuse of these programs could be considered welfare fraud. These cases typically start with the organization that’s issuing the welfare benefits gathering information, often because of an anonymous tip. Once it has collected evidence against you, it may request that you come meet with its investigators and bring specific documents with you, which vary depending on the circumstances surrounding your case.

Whether you’re in that very situation, you’ve already been charged with welfare fraud or you feel like a case is being developed against you, it’s important to take action right away. This guide will cover everything you need to know about welfare fraud and how you can protect yourself.

What the Law Considers Welfare Fraud

The New York legal code has a broad definition of welfare fraud, which makes sense when you consider the many welfare programs the state has. Any use of false information to get welfare benefits is welfare fraud. This could mean providing false information in an application for public assistance, failing to update your information after a life change when you’ve been receiving welfare or using benefits in a way they weren’t intended.

Let’s look at some examples of each of these.

When you apply for any type of public assistance, you must provide information about your household, including the number of people who live there and your household income. Only those under certain income thresholds will qualify for assistance. Lying about how many people live with you or how much money you make are both welfare fraud.

You need to keep your information up to date with the organization that provide your welfare benefits. For example, if you are receiving food stamps through SNAP and you get a new job with a much higher income, you’re required to report that immediately so that SNAP can adjust your benefit amount accordingly.

SNAP issues debit cards that can only be used in certain stores for qualified food purchases. If you were to make a deal with a store owner, allowing them to run your card for a purchase and give you a portion of the money for that purchase instead of the item, that would be welfare fraud on both your part and the store owner’s part.

Welfare Fraud Classifications and Penalties

There are five degrees of welfare fraud:

• Welfare fraud in the fifth degree, value of the stolen benefits can be up to $1,000, class A misdemeanor
• Welfare fraud in the fourth degree, value of the stolen benefits is over $1,000 but no more than $3,000, class E felony
• Welfare fraud in the third degree, value of the stolen benefits is over $3,000 but no more than $50,000, class D felony
• Welfare fraud in the second degree, value of the stolen benefits is over $50,000 but no more than $1 million, class C felony
• Welfare fraud in the first degree, value of the stolen benefits is over $1 million, class B felony

Penalties get more severe with each degree of welfare fraud, but at any degree, you could end up with a fine, time in prison and permanent disqualification from receiving future welfare benefits.

The severe repercussions are why it’s so important to hire a skilled Brooklyn welfare fraud lawyer the moment you know that you could be at risk for a welfare fraud case. A lawyer from our firm can represent you throughout the case, advising you on the correct course of action and providing the best defense possible.