Making purchases with a faked or stolen credit card can leave an individual open to fraud charges. These are usually handled by a state court. However, in certain cases, the fraud that is committed may merit the attention of a federal court. This usually occurs when the amount of money involved is higher than normal or when a conspiracy is involved.
What constitutes federal credit card fraud?
Felony charges at the federal level can be applied in a number of circumstances. For example, you may be charged with transporting or attempting to transport a card that you know is stolen or forged. This action can occur across either state lines or through commerce in a foreign country, especially if a transportation service is used.
You can be tried in a federal court if the lost, forged, or stolen card is used to obtain goods or services with a total worth of more than $1,000. This can also apply if you do not use the card yourself but merely assist in concealing it so that authorities can’t detect it.
Penalties for credit card fraud
There are a number of penalties that a person convicted of credit card fraud may be liable to receive. For example, someone convicted of this crime may be required to pay a fine of up to $25,000. They could also be sentenced to a term of anywhere from 10 to 15 years in federal prison.
An individual who is convicted of credit card fraud may be required to pay full restitution for their crime. This means paying back the full amount of money that was obtained via fraud. Finally, they may also be required to forfeit any assets that the court determines were obtained through fraudulent means.
