United States of America v. Christopher Judge and Raquelle Judge

Dallas, Texas, criminal defense lawyers represent the Defendants charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

AI Overview
18 U.S.C. § 1349
makes it a federal crime to attempt or conspire to commit any fraud offense under Chapter 63 of Title 18, imposing the same penalties as if the actual fraud were completed, covering mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and healthcare fraud. This law targets those who plan or try to execute schemes like phishing, malware, identity theft, or kickbacks intended to defraud, even if the scheme isn't fully successful.
Key Aspects of 18 U.S.C. § 1349:

Applies to Chapter 63 Offenses: It covers attempts or conspiracies related to schemes in 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 (Mail Fraud), 1343 (Wire Fraud), 1344 (Bank Fraud), 1347 (Health Care Fraud), etc..
Equal Penalties: If you're caught attempting or conspiring to commit these frauds, you face the same jail time, fines, and asset forfeiture as someone who actually completed the fraud.
Covers Incomplete Schemes: You don't need to successfully steal money or property; just taking substantial steps (attempt) or agreeing with others (conspiracy) to commit the underlying fraud is enough for a charge.
Examples in Practice: Prosecutors use this statute for complex digital frauds, such as hacking into company networks to steal confidential information for insider trading (as seen in some cases) or orchestrating sophisticated Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams.

In Simple Terms: If you plan or try to pull off a major federal fraud, you can be prosecuted and punished as if you succeeded, thanks to 18 U.S.C. § 1349.

18 U.S.C. § 1343 provides:

Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

A criminal charge is not proof of guilt.