Law Office Of Leanna J. Smith
Leanna Smith

Dedicated Criminal Defense Attorneys On Your Side for Theft & Fraud Cases

If you have been charged committing fraud or theft in DeLand, Deltona, Daytona Beach, or other area of Volusia County and are seeking honest, dedicated, and aggressive legal representation, contact the criminal defense attorneys at the Law Office of Leanna J. Smith. If you’re in trouble, we want to help.

Theft & Fraud

Grand Theft

Under Florida Statute 812.014(2), “Grand Theft” is defined as unlawfully taking another person’s property that is valued at $300 or more.

Besides proving the value of the items taken, to prove grand theft the State must also prove that the person took another person’s property with the intent to deprive that person of a right or benefit of the property, or that the property was taken for personal use or the use of another person not entitled to the use of the property.

Penalty: the penalty for grand theft is dependent upon the value of the property unlawfully taken, and penalties increase based on the value of the stolen property.

Petit (Petty) Theft

Under Florida Statute 812.014(3), “Petit Theft” is defined as unlawfully taking another person’s property that is valued at $300 or less.

To prove that the crime is petit theft, the State must prove that the person took another person’s property with the intent to deprive that person of a right or benefit of the property, or that the property was taken for personal use or the use of another person not entitled to the use of the property.

Penalty: the penalty for petit theft is dependent upon the value of the property that was stolen.

Dealing in Stolen Property

Florida Statute 812.019(1), defines “Dealing in Stolen Property” as any person who traffics in, or endeavors to traffic in, property that he or she knows or should know was stolen.

Penalty: dealing in stolen property is considered a felony of the second degree, which is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines.

Florida Statute 812.019(2), expands “Dealing in Stolen Property” as any person who initiates organizes, plans, finances, directs, manages, or supervises the theft of property and traffics in such stolen property.

Penalty: this second level of dealing in stolen property is considered a felony of the first degree, which is punishable by up to 30 years imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines.

Scheme to Defraud

Under Florida Statute 817.034, “Scheme to Defraud” is defined as a systematic, ongoing course of action to intentionally defraud one or more persons, or to intentionally obtain property from one or more persons, by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, promises, or willful misrepresentations of a future act.

In Florida, Scheme to Defraud can be classified as either Organized Fraud or Communications Fraud.

Penalty: the penalties for scheme to defraud in the state of Florida are dependent upon the value of property, and whether the offender committed organized fraud or communications fraud.

Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card

Under Florida Statute 817.61, “Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card” is defined as a person who, with intent to defraud the issuer or a person or organization providing money, goods, services, or anything else of value or any other person, uses, for the purpose of obtaining money, goods, services, or anything else of value, a credit card unlawfully obtained or retained or a credit card which he or she knows is forged, or who obtains money, goods, services, or anything else of value by representing, without the consent of the cardholder, that he or she is the holder of a specified card or by representing that he or she is the holder of a card and such card has not in fact been issued.

Penalty: The penalty for fraudulent use of a credit card is dependent upon either the number of times the credit card was used within a six-month period, or the value of the goods obtained within a six-month time period.

Issuing Worthless Checks

Under Florida Statute 832.05(2), “Issuing Worthless Checks” is defined as knowingly drawing, making, uttering, issuing, or delivering to another any check, draft, or other written order on any bank or depository, or to use a debit card, for the payment of money or its equivalent, knowing at the time of the drawing, making, uttering, issuing, or delivering such check or draft, or at the time of using such debit card, that the maker or drawer thereof has not sufficient funds on deposit in or credit with such bank or depository with which to pay the same on presentation.

Penalty: the penalty for issuing worthless checks is dependent upon whether the worthless check was $150 or more.

Contact the Law Office of Leanna J. Smith

When you need an honest, dedicated criminal defense attorney to defend you against theft or fraud charges in DeLand, Daytona Beach, Deltona, or surrounding Volusia County, contact the Law Office of Leanna J. Smith. If you’re in trouble, we want to help.
Criminal Defense