Federal Criminal Lawyers Protecting Your Freedom Against Charges of Counterfeit Credit Cards or Other Access Devices

Before a person can be convicted of federal charges of counterfeit credit cards or other access devices, the following three elements must exist:

• The person charged must have knowingly produced or used or trafficked a counterfeit access device;
• The person charged acted must have willfully, with knowledge of the counterfeit nature of the access device, and with the intent of defrauding or deceiving; and
• The conduct of the person charged must have affected interstate or foreign commerce.

It is important to note that a federal prosecutor must not prove anyone was in fact deceived or defrauded, but simply that the person charged had the intent to defraud. A skilled federal defense lawyer will understand this distinction and prepare the defense accordingly. It also important to note that the term "access device" means any credit card, account number, plate, electronic serial number, code, mobile identification number, personal identification number, or other means of account access that can be used, alone or in conjunction with another access device, to obtain money, goods, services, or any other thing of value, or that can be used to initiate a transfer of funds (other than a transfer originated solely by paper instrument). Therefore, "counterfeit access device" means any access device that is counterfeit, fictitious, altered, or forged, or an identifiable component of an access device or a counterfeit access device.

Federal crimes are very serious and very complex. If you have been charged with counterfeit credit cards or access device on a federal lever, it is crucial that you have a skilled federal lawyer on your side defending you. A knowledgeable criminal defense attorney will know the ins and outs of the federal court system and can protect you against severe punishments. Moreover, if you are under investigation for a federal crime, it is vital that you contact a federal attorney immediately to assist you with your investigation. This pre-file investigation stage of the criminal process is the most important stage because this is where the prosecution begins to put together their case against you.