Law Office of Sara Azari

Los Angeles Healthcare and Insurance Fraud Attorney, Serving Beverly Hills, Southern California, and Federal Courts Across the Nation

Though fraud and forgery are typically considered white-collar crimes and are often regarded as less serious than violent crimes, effective legal representation is still vital in cases involving these types of charges. A fraud or forgery conviction carries stiff penalties that can negatively impact your future. People found guilty of fraud, forgery, and other white-collar crimes are convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, which significantly affects their ability to work in certain professions and obtain many types of professional licenses for years to follow.

If you have been charged in connection with a fraud or forgery crime, such as counterfeiting, identity theft, or Medicare fraud, Los Angeles healthcare insurance fraud and identity theft attorney Sara Azari can help. Serving Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and communities throughout California and the United States, the Law Offices of Sara Azari will protect your rights with aggressive representation. 

Healthcare/Insurance Fraud

Unfortunately, every year healthcare providers across the nation become the targets of federal healthcare fraud investigations. The prosecution of healthcare fraud continues to be one of the government’s top law enforcement priorities as it has been over the last decade, and prosecution of healthcare fraud is on a steady rise. In fact, it is among the highest priority investigations within the FBI’s White Collar Crime Program. An increasing number of honest and upstanding healthcare professionals, administrators, and patients face criminal allegations of healthcare fraud and find themselves having to defend against such accusations.

Medical providers who become the target of a criminal healthcare fraud prosecution must prepare for the fight of their professional lives. They face a grueling legal battle with great exposure to substantial jail time, monetary fines, and the loss of their professional license. Even if not convicted, they may inevitably face negative publicity, loss of patients, loss of in-network status with insurance carriers, exclusion from government and private insurance programs, as well as licensing problems.

Often, a healthcare provider discovers that he or she is the target of a federal criminal healthcare fraud prosecution when served with a search warrant by federal agents who will knock at the door of the medical office or facility. Another manner by which a healthcare provider may learn that he or she is the target of a criminal healthcare fraud prosecution is by receiving a subpoena from the government or by being subjected to an audit by a private insurance company.

Given the current climate of increased healthcare fraud investigations, providers should have a plan in place to respond to the surprise search warrant. Some of the ways to minimize overall exposure and liability is to:

The charge of healthcare fraud is set forth in Title 18, Section 1347 of the U.S. Code. In order to prevail on such a charge, the government must prove that the healthcare provider knowingly and willfully executed or attempted to execute a scheme or artifice:

Common Examples of Healthcare and Insurance Fraud

While there is no finite list of conduct that can result in a charge of healthcare fraud, some of the items that frequently results in such charge include:

Medicare/Medi-Cal Fraud

A common charge that a healthcare fraud attorney frequently defends is that of Medicare and/or Medi-Cal fraud. This consists of attempts made by an individual or corporation to collect Medicare/Medi-Cal reimbursements under false pretenses. Medi-Cal fraud is a state offense while defrauding the nation’s Medicare system is a federal crime. Medicare/Medi-Cal providers (physicians, providers, and suppliers), state and federal agencies, and the patient recipients can be accused of having engaged in fraudulent activities aimed at increasing their financial benefits from Medicare/Medi-Cal.

Those convicted of such offenses are likely to face hefty fines, long term imprisonment in state or federal prison, or both. If the accused is not an American citizen and is convicted, they may face deportation proceedings following the completion of their prison sentence. Individuals who face charges of Medicare/Medi-Cal fraud will need skilled legal counsel to ensure that their rights are protected.

An Experienced Healthcare Fraud Attorney Can Help

Because of the increasing prevalence of healthcare insurance fraud, it is becoming too easy for honest patients and providers to get entangled in false criminal allegations. In addition, the laws concerning healthcare insurance fraud become more complex as they evolve, so individuals facing these charges need experienced representation by an aggressive attorney who will protect their rights.

If you have been accused of such fraudulent practices, you can find exceptional legal representation in the Los Angeles area at the offices of healthcare fraud attorney Sara Azari. An experienced insurance fraud attorney serving Beverly Hills and communities throughout California and the United States, Ms. Azari has experience in navigating complicated healthcare insurance laws in both state and federal courts.

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Identity Theft and Fraud

Identity theft is the illegal use of another individual’s identity. Some common examples of identity theft include using another person’s credit card to make purchases over the Internet, forging a signature on a check, and applying for a credit card using another person’s name. More and more common today, identity theft is generally divided into four categories:

These crimes are taken very seriously by the government. As such, individuals charged with any type of identity theft should seek representation from a skilled attorney.  Residents of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and communities throughout Los Angeles and the United States can find experienced legal counsel for these crimes at the Law Office of Sara Azari.

Penalties for Identity Theft

On July 15, 2004, President Bush signed the "Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act," which provides for harsh punishment for individuals convicted of identity theft.  The law increases existing penalties for the crime and establishes aggravated identity theft – defined as the use of a stolen identity in the commission of certain, specific criminal acts – as a criminal offense. Aggravated identity theft carries stiff penalties, such as jail time, fines, or both.

If you or a loved one has been charged with identity theft, attorney Sara Azari, serving Santa Monica and other communities throughout California and the United States, can help.  Don't jeopardize your freedom.  Contact the Law Office of Sara Azari today.

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Real Estate Fraud

Real estate fraud is a category of crimes related to falsified real estate transactions. While there are numerous types of real estate fraud, two of the more prevalent charges that individuals face are mortgage fraud and title fraud. 

Those charged with real estate fraud are exposed to very severe penalties and need to take steps to protect their rights and their reputations. People accused of real estate fraud in California or anywhere in the United States should contact the Law Office of Sara Azari in Los Angeles. An experienced fraud attorney, Ms. Azari provides aggressive, expert representation for individuals facing real estate fraud allegations.

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Wire Fraud

Wire fraud is committed by using a mode of communication - the Internet, radio, television, phone, fax machine, or any other communication medium other than mail – to obtain money, property, or sensitive personal information fraudulently. Most often, it involves the collection of information such as credit card, social security, or bank account numbers. Wire fraud can also be associated with the commission of other types of crimes, including securities fraud and identity theft. Some common examples of wire fraud include:

Wire fraud carries harsh penalties which may include fines and up to 20 years in prison. Fraud against a financial institution can be punished with fines up to $1,000,000 and imprisonment for up to 30 years. If you have been charged with this offense, you need expert legal help. Attorney Sara Azari serves Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and all of California and the United States, providing exceptional counsel to individuals accused of wire fraud and other white-collar crimes. 

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Mail Fraud

An individual's attempts to use the U.S. postal system, or private carriers such as UPS and Federal Express, to obtain money or valuables unlawfully may constitute mail fraud.  Mail fraud is a federal offense, since it is a crime that involves passing fraudulent materials across state lines through the federal mail system. There are many examples of mail fraud, including:

A conviction of mail fraud may include hefty fines and prison time. If the mail fraud targeted a financial institution, fines can reach up to one million dollars with a prison sentence of up to 30 years. Persons accused of mail fraud should seek legal counsel to avoid unnecessary penalties.  Federal criminal fraud attorney Sara Azari provides exceptional legal representation to individuals in Los Angeles, California, and throughout the United States in cases related to mail fraud.  If you have been charged with mail fraud, her impassioned criminal defense advocacy can ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive high-quality legal representation.

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Securities Fraud

Securities fraud, also known as investment fraud, is a white-collar crime that involves the deception or manipulation of investors in order to commit theft.  It also involves misleading accounting firms with respect to a corporation’s financial reports.  An individual or business may commit securities fraud by intentionally misrepresenting the condition of a company and other activities including:

Securities fraud has increased substantially in recent years, due in part to the expansion of the Internet and the increased access of perpetrators to investors, creditors, taxing authorities, and other potential victims.  A securities fraud conviction may include fines, prison time, and repayment of stolen money.

Securities fraud matters are complex cases and most often center on voluminous paper evidence, bank records, and other documentation. Forensic accountants and other financial experts are frequently called upon to interpret the evidence, and the prosecution of these cases often follows lengthy investigations by internal investigation units of various governmental entities that can take months to complete. With the government becoming ever more zealous in its pursuit of such cases, people accused of being involved in securities fraud in the Los Angeles area or anywhere in the United States should seek the expert legal counsel of Sara Azari.

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Criminal Tax Fraud

The term “criminal tax fraud,” or "tax evasion," refers to the avoidance of paying federal, state, or local taxes by illegal means.  This should not be confused with tax avoidance (attempts to reduce or avoid tax payment through legal means) or tax resistance (the declared refusal to pay taxes for conscientious or ethical reasons). In general, mere mistakes and carelessness are not considered tax fraud. When determining whether criminal tax fraud has been committed, the IRS will look for acts of intentional wrongdoing, which may include:

Persons convicted of criminal tax fraud may face penalties such as fines of up to $500,000, incarceration, and/or asset forfeiture. If you believe you may face charges of criminal tax fraud, you should contact a skilled criminal defense and tax fraud attorney immediately. In some cases, your actions can turn a mere IRS tax audit into a criminal tax fraud case. An experienced tax fraud attorney, like Ms. Azari, can provide you with the experts necessary to help you through an IRS investigation and ensure that your rights are upheld in the event you face tax fraud charges. 

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Commercial Fraud

Businesses that intentionally or unintentionally misrepresent their profits and expenses may be accused of commercial fraud. This term refers to acts of omission or negligence that result in the misstatement or misrepresentation of the profits, losses, revenues, or expenses of a business.  However, many businesses are falsely accused of commercial fraud. For a business or individual to be prosecuted for commercial fraud, the court must find that:

Prosecution for commercial fraud is typically aggressive, often involving interrogations, computer forensics, and other intrusive measures. A conviction of commercial fraud can result in civil penalties, seizures, and criminal prosecutions. Businesses in the Los Angeles area or anywhere in the United States accused of commercial fraud should contact the Law Office of Sara Azari to receive premier legal representation.

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Counterfeiting

Counterfeiting is a white-collar crime that involves replicating an item or items, such as money or designer goods, with the intent to pass the replicas off as genuine. Common examples of counterfeiting include:

Counterfeiting is often associated with other crimes, including real estate fraud and identity theft, and is punishable by fines, imprisonment, probation, house arrest, and community service. Attorney Sara Azari has successfully represented people from throughout California and the United States who have been accused of counterfeiting and fraud-related crimes.

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Contact the Law Office of Sara Azari, near Santa Monica

To obtain legal representation in the Los Angeles area for healthcare insurance fraud, identity theft, or other forms of fraud and forgery, contact attorney Sara Azari, providing the Santa Monica and Beverly Hills areas, and all of Californian and the United States with exceptional legal counsel.  Ms. Azari is an aggressive trial lawyer who represents clients in all types of fraud cases and always brings outstanding training and expertise to her Los Angeles criminal law practice. 

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Whether you have already been arrested for or you think you may be charged with a white-collar crime, you need to have an aggressive and experienced attorney on your side as soon as possible.

Contact Sara Azari, a Los Angeles healthcare insurance fraud and identity theft attorney who provides clients in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and other communities in California and the U.S., with aggressive representation in cases involving white collar crimes.






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Los Angeles, California 90069

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Fax: 310.246.0880

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