Federal charges
Dallas federal fraud lawyer: wire, bank and PPP fraud.
Federal fraud cases are built from documents: bank records, loan applications, emails and billing data, often gathered for a year or more before anyone is charged. Two things usually decide the outcome: whether the government can prove intent to defraud, and how large the loss is, because the loss amount drives the sentencing guidelines. We read every page, run our own numbers and talk with prosecutors early, when it can still change what gets charged.
Right now
If you learned you are under investigation.
- 01
Do not talk to agents or auditors alone
FBI, IRS, SBA or HHS agents may call it a routine interview. In a fraud case, every word about the numbers is evidence of intent.
- 02
Preserve every record
Do not delete emails, shred files, edit spreadsheets or close accounts. Destroying records can be charged separately and can carry up to 20 years.
- 03
Do not repay or amend on your own yet
Paying money back or filing corrected forms can help, but how and when it is done matters. Do it with a lawyer so it is not read as an admission.
- 04
Make a list of who helped
Accountants, tax preparers, loan brokers and bookkeepers. What they told you, and what they filled out, can be central to the defense.
- 05
Call us for a free consultation
Bring any subpoena, target letter or agent's card. The earlier we are involved, the more room there is before an indictment.
Key deadlines and numbers
- Wire fraud
- Up to 20 years, 30 if it affects a bank or disaster or emergency benefitsSource: 18 U.S.C. 1343
- Bank fraud
- Up to 30 years and a $1,000,000 fineSource: 18 U.S.C. 1344
- Aggravated identity theft
- 2 years added on, served after the fraud sentenceSource: 18 U.S.C. 1028A
- Time limit for PPP and EIDL loan fraud
- 10 yearsSource: PPP and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act (2022)
- Restitution
- Mandatory for most fraud convictionsSource: 18 U.S.C. 3663A
Texas law
How federal fraud law works.
Most federal fraud charges share the same core: a scheme to get money or property through material false statements or promises, done with intent to defraud. The statute used depends on how the scheme worked: through wires and the internet, a bank, a health care program, or a tax return.
| Charge | Maximum prison term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wire fraud (1343) or mail fraud (1341) | 20 years, 30 in some cases | 30 years if a bank is affected or disaster or emergency benefits are involved. |
| Bank fraud (1344) | 30 years | Includes many PPP cases where the loan went through a bank. |
| False statement on a loan application (1014) | 30 years | Covers statements to banks and the SBA. |
| Health care fraud (1347) | 10 years, more with injury or death | 20 years with serious bodily injury, up to life if a death results. |
| Aggravated identity theft (1028A) | 2 years, mandatory | Must run consecutive to the fraud sentence. |
| Aiding a false tax return (26 U.S.C. 7206(2)) | 3 years per return | The usual charge against tax return preparers. |
Intent is what separates fraud from a mistake
Bad bookkeeping, a failed business, a loose reading of loan rules by someone else, or reliance on an accountant or preparer is not the same as intent to defraud. Good faith is a defense, and the documents often show it.
Source: 18 U.S.C. 1343Loss drives the sentence
Under the fraud guideline, the offense level rises in steps as the loss grows, and a few steps can mean years. How loss is counted, what credit is given for money repaid or collateral, and whether it is actual or intended loss are often the biggest fights in the case.
Source: USSG 2B1.1Identity theft charges were narrowed
In Dubin (2023), the Supreme Court held that the 2-year identity theft add-on applies only when using another person's identifying information is at the heart of what makes the conduct criminal, not just a detail of a billing scheme. That can remove a mandatory 2 years.
Source: Dubin v. United States (2023)PPP and EIDL cases have a longer clock
Congress extended the time to charge PPP and EIDL fraud to 10 years, so loans from 2020 and 2021 can still be investigated into 2030 and 2031. Many cases turn on payroll figures, employee counts, how funds were used and who filled out the application.
Source: COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act (2022)How we work
How we defend a federal fraud case.
Mr. Estrada reviews the evidence and sets the strategy. Associates and staff organize the documents with him, and we bring in a forensic accountant when the numbers call for one.
01
Build our own timeline from the records
Bank statements, loan files, emails, billing data and tax returns, put in order so we know the story before the government tells it.
02
Find the evidence of good faith
Advice from professionals, disclosures that were made, money that went to real business expenses, and errors made by lenders, brokers or preparers.
03
Calculate the loss ourselves
We separate actual loss from the government's estimates, credit repayments and collateral, and remove amounts that were never part of a scheme.
04
Challenge the add-on counts
Aggravated identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy counts are often stacked on a fraud case. Each must meet its own elements.
05
Negotiate early, prepare for trial
Before indictment, there may be room to argue for no charges, fewer counts or a lower loss figure. If the case goes forward, we prepare it for trial and for sentencing at the same time.
Who handles it
The lawyer on the sign is the lawyer on your case.
Mr. Estrada has practiced in Texas since 2003, in state court and in the Northern, Eastern and Western federal districts of Texas. He reads the file and sets the strategy, with associates and staff who work the case alongside him. Everything is explained to you in English or Spanish.
What clients say
“He helped bond my brother out of jail, kept us updated and went above and beyond to get his case dismissed.”What a fraud case can mean beyond prison.
- Immigration
- A fraud conviction with a loss over $10,000 is an aggravated felony under immigration law, and fraud is generally treated as a crime involving moral turpitude. A non-citizen needs the loss figure and the statute planned carefully.
- Licenses and government programs
- Health care providers can be excluded from Medicare and Medicaid, and business owners can be barred from government loans and contracts. Professional boards may also act.
- Restitution and your finances
- Restitution is usually ordered in the full loss amount, can be shared among codefendants, and generally cannot be wiped out in bankruptcy. Planning for it is part of the defense.
Dallas and Odessa
Fraud cases in North and West Texas.
Fraud cases from Dallas and nearby counties are prosecuted in the Northern District of Texas at the Earle Cabell Federal Building, where PPP loan, health care billing and tax preparer cases have all been active. Collin and Denton County cases go to the Eastern District in Sherman or Plano, and Ector and Midland County cases to the Western District's Midland-Odessa Division. Our Oak Cliff office is a short drive from downtown, and we meet business owners in Spanish or English.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
What is the difference between wire fraud and bank fraud?
Wire fraud covers schemes carried out through phone, email, the internet or electronic transfers. Bank fraud covers schemes against a bank or to get money a bank holds. One scheme can be charged both ways, and bank fraud carries a higher maximum.
How is the sentence calculated in a fraud case?
Mostly by the loss amount, plus factors like the number of victims, sophisticated means, and the person's role and record. The judge then decides whether a sentence inside or outside that range is right. That is why the loss figure is worth fighting over.
My PPP loan numbers were wrong. Am I in trouble?
Not necessarily. Errors and confusing rules are not fraud. But false payroll figures, invented employees or using funds for personal expenses are being investigated, and the window to charge is 10 years. Get advice before you contact the lender or the SBA.
My accountant or tax preparer filled it out. Does that matter?
It can matter a great deal. If you gave honest information and relied on a professional, that goes to intent. The government will look at what you knew and signed, so we look at it first.
Will I have to pay restitution?
In most federal fraud convictions, yes. The amount is often the same loss figure used for sentencing, which is another reason to contest it carefully.
Should I pay the money back now?
Repayment can help with prosecutors and at sentencing, but timing and paperwork matter. Talk to a lawyer first so the payment helps you and is not treated as a confession.
How much does it cost to hire you?
The consultation is free. Fraud cases vary a lot in size, so we discuss the fee and payment options up front once we see the scope.
Related situations
- Federal investigations and target letters
- Money laundering
- Federal sentencing and plea deals
- Other federal cases
- Internet crimes
- All: Federal Criminal Defense
Updated October 2026
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
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Law Office of Olegario Estrada, P.C.
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