Federal charges carry serious repercussions, even if they do not lead to convictions. Criminal charges have the potential to ruin the accused individual's personal and professional life, from his or her reputation in the workplace to family relationships. This is why they should be taken seriously, especially if they involve federal crimes since these carry harsher penalties, prison sentences and fines than some state crimes.
This may be the problem a famous politician is facing in Georgia after an indictment revealed federal charges of wire and mail fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney, he is accused of defrauding clients to the tune of $1.8 million, sometimes under the pretense of creating trusts for them. In addition to this, the allegations include that he falsely represented that he was taking down payments from his clients to assist them in getting loans. The 55-year-old man is accused of using the funds to pay his credit card bills, personal expenses and repaying other clients. The alleged crimes took place between 2008 and 2013.
Chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party at one time, he was pressured into resigning from this post last year. In addition to this, he was also asked to surrender his license to practice law in Georgia in 2014 after his law firm was accused of mishandling a medical malpractice case.
Federal charges undoubtedly cause problems for those accused of them, and one way to ensure the accused's rights are protected is to work on creating a strong defense. Even though accusations can harm someone's reputation, clearing one's name can go a long way in rebuilding the relationships that were affected. An experienced attorney may be able to help Georgia residents defend their rights in such a situation.
Source: Valdosta Today, "Former Georgia Dems head indicted on fraud charges," Sept. 14, 2014