Top Waldorf, MD Securities Fraud Lawyers Near You
Securities Fraud Lawyers | Serving Upper Marlboro, MD
Nationally Recognized Trial Attorney. Unwavering Representation, As If You Are Family. Call Our Firm For Your Criminal Case!
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Securities Fraud Lawyers | Serving Waldorf, MD
Maryland's Premier Criminal Defense Firm. Nationally Acclaimed. 40+ Years Of Experience. Make The Right Decision And Call Now.
Free Consultation
4907 Niagara Rd, Ste 103, College Park, MD 20740
6309 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 302, Riverdale, MD 20737
98 Church Street, Rockville, MD 20850
600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 310, Rockville, MD 20852
11810 Grand Park Ave, Suite 500, North Bethesda, MD 20852
10665 Stanhaven Pl, Suite 3117, White Plains, MD 20695
2670 Crain Highway, Suite 411, Waldorf, MD 20601
12301 Old Columbia Pike, Suite 210, Silver Spring, MD 20904
PO Box 2838, Upper Marlboro, MD 20773
12505 Park Potomac Ave, 6th FL, Potomac, MD 20854
108 Byte Dr, Suite 102-A, Frederick, MD 21702
204 Washington Ave, Suite 300, La Plata, MD 20646
8957 A-Edmonston Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
7200 Wiscnsin Ave, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20814
17 West Jefferson Street, Suite 105, Rockville, MD 20850-4240
5410 McGrath Blvd, Ste 205, North Bethesda, MD 20852
815 Pershing Drive, Suite 506, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7449
6495 New Hampshire Ave, Suite B260, Hyattsville, MD 20783
PO Box 86526, Montgomery Village, MD 20886
8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 1002, Silver Spring, MD 20910
110 Thomas Johnson Dr, Suite 160, Frederick, MD 21702
306 Merrimac Ct, PO Box 790, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
3475 Leonardtown Rd, Suite 105, Waldorf, MD 20601
PO Box 1299, Upper Marlboro, MD 20773-1299
5407 Water St, Suite 205, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Waldorf Securities Fraud Information
Lead Counsel Verified Attorneys in Waldorf
Lead Counsel independently verifies Securities Fraud attorneys in Waldorf and checks their standing with Maryland bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.
Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.
Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.
Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Does the Law Say About Securities Fraud?
Securities fraud involves fraudulent misrepresentations in buying, selling, trading stock or other financial commodities. Securities fraud can also involve stock price manipulation to artificially inflate or deflate stock values. Securities fraud is a type of “white-collar crime,” which is a financially motivated, nonviolent crime.
Is Securities Fraud a Federal Crime?
Securities fraud is a federal offense, like mail fraud or wire fraud. Under securities law in the U.S. Code, it is a violation of the Securities Exchange Act to defraud any person in connection with any commodity. It is also a crime to execute a scheme to obtain money or property in connection with any stock commodity through misrepresentation, false pretenses, or fraudulent promises.
Securities fraud may also be a violation of Maryland state law. Many states have a law that mirrors the federal criminal statute. State agencies or state law enforcement may prosecute fraudulent securities practices that occur within state lines.
What Are Common Types of Securities Fraud?
Fraudulent security schemes can take a variety of forms. Common examples of securities fraud include:
- Corporate fraud
- Insider trading
- Internet fraud
- Short selling schemes
- Ponzi schemes
- Pump and dump
Corporate fraud generally involves misrepresentations made by corporate directors and executives. This may include misrepresentations or cooking the books to artificially inflate the company’s stock value. Corporate shareholders can then profit from selling the overpriced stock or selling the overvalued company. The Enron corporate fraud case is a famous example of corporate-level fraud.
A Ponzi scheme is an investment scheme where earlier investors are paid out returns out of the money from new investors. As long as the share of investors continues to increase, other investors can receive consistent profits. However, as soon as the new influx of money starts to slow down or dry up, the scheme falls apart and individual investors find out their life savings are gone.
How Does Someone Find Out About Securities Fraud?
In some cases, a financial scheme can go on for years before anyone suspects any criminal activity. Federal government agencies may suspect fraud because of suspicious financial transactions, excessive trading, or irregular tax filings. However, many securities fraud cases are reported by whistleblowers. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has a whistleblower office for people to report possible fraud. Fraud may be reported by investors, employees, or even relatives who become aware of false securities claims.
Whistleblowers have an incentive to report insider trading or corporate fraud because the SEC provides monetary awards for individuals who report fraud that leads to SEC enforcement. Whistleblowers can receive up to 30% of the enforcement money collected.
Can You Go to Jail for Securities Fraud?
You can go to jail for securities fraud. Federal fraud statutes provide long prison sentences for felony fraud. Under U.S. law, a conviction for securities fraud can result in fines and imprisonment for up to 25 years. Depending on the fraud involved, securities violations may include other fraud charges, including:
- Telemarketing fraud
- Wire fraud
- Bank fraud
- Mail fraud
- Identity theft
- Credit card fraud
- Check fraud
- Insurance fraud
There may also be civil penalties for fraud, which could result in fines, treble damages, and restitution for the victims of investment fraud.
How Can an Experienced Securities Lawyer Help?
If your business or investment activities are being investigated by a government agency, you may be under investigation for securities fraud. Securities fraud attorneys may be able to represent you during an investigation to make sure your legal rights are represented. If you are facing legal action, criminal defense lawyers can represent you in court.
Investment fraud lawyers can use the discovery process to review all the evidence in your case, talk to witnesses, and gather relevant records to build a strong legal defense. An investment fraud attorney may also be able to negotiate a plea agreement for the best possible outcome. A successful plea deal can have charges reduced, charges dropped, or reduce the criminal sentencing.