A payment, invoice, or account entry can look different when the surrounding records are missing. If investigators or prosecutors say a transaction was dishonest, Miller & Jacobs helps you examine the allegation, the evidence behind it, and the decisions you face next.
Save the inquiry or notice exactly as received. Tell counsel who contacted you, what they requested, and whether a response date has been set.
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Start with where the relevant material is kept and who lawfully controls it. A spreadsheet prepared after the dispute may summarize the claim, but it should be checked against the underlying records. Our Orlando criminal defense practice reviews the evidence in relation to the charge and your actual role.
You may be worried about how to keep working while your conduct is questioned. You do not need to solve the accounting dispute before speaking with a lawyer. Explain what you know, identify what you cannot yet verify, and bring the documents that started the concern.
The charging document matters. State and federal laws can address different conduct, and the offense level may depend on more than a single payment. Tell us at the outset about any federal agency, federal subpoena, or federal court case so we can confirm whether the firm can accept the matter.
Florida’s organized fraud statute addresses obtaining property through a scheme to defraud. Counsel should examine the claimed false statements, intent, transactions, and property obtained. A disputed business outcome should be analyzed against the required legal elements.
The same statute separately addresses communications made in furtherance of a scheme with intent to obtain property. Review the complete exchange, who sent it, and its purpose. The absence of a completed transfer does not answer every possible allegation.
An allegation under section 817.568 requires review of the particular provision charged. Relevant issues may include consent, authorization, fraudulent use, and who actually handled the information. Shared access should be investigated rather than assumed to establish responsibility.
Call with the type of notice you received and the transaction being questioned. We can discuss the next deadline and how a defense review would begin.
Some clients have only an investigator’s request. Others have a pending Orange County case. The Orange County Clerk’s criminal court information can help identify local case services, but the case documents determine the obligations in your matter.
An interview request, subpoena, and court order are different. Counsel should review what is voluntary, what requires action, and when. Do not ignore legal process or guess at facts in an effort to provide a quick explanation.
Keep records intact. Do not revise old entries, backdate notes, delete messages, or take files you are not entitled to possess. Identify material held by an employer, bank, or platform so counsel can consider lawful ways to obtain it.
Compare the alleged loss and dates with source records. Check whether transactions have been duplicated, grouped, or attributed to the wrong person. For organized fraud, amounts obtained in one scheme can be aggregated, making the scope of the alleged scheme important.
The review may identify a disputed element, an evidentiary issue, or a reason to seek further investigation. Counsel can discuss motions, negotiations, and trial preparation as appropriate. A large volume of records does not determine the strength of the case by itself.
Discuss any proposed plea, restitution calculation, supervision, and other obligations together. Tell counsel about professional licensing, immigration, or employment concerns so the need for additional advice can be identified before a decision.
Mark J. Miller or Rick S. Jacobs handles your case. Bring both helpful and difficult information to that conversation. Knowing about a disputed entry or earlier statement at the start helps counsel plan the review and explain the options accurately.
Mark J. Miller is a former assistant state attorney admitted to The Florida Bar in 1995. His experience includes more than 70 jury trials to verdict across his legal career. Read his biography and ask about his approach to your matter.
Read Mark’s Bio →
Rick S. Jacobs is a former assistant state attorney admitted to The Florida Bar in 1995. His experience includes more than 160 jury trials to verdict across his legal career. His biography provides background for the conversation about your defense.
Read Rick’s Bio →Ask how the work will be scoped. Record volume, investigation, motion practice, trial preparation, and any need for a financial or digital specialist can affect the engagement. Confirm attorney fees and any separate costs before proceeding.
Fraud allegations often involve records from several people or organizations. A precise answer depends on the charge, source material, and current stage.
An audit can be evidence, but its assumptions, source records, and conclusions still need review. A discrepancy does not itself resolve identity, authorization, or the intent required for a particular criminal charge.
Preserve the original. Explain the suspected error separately to your lawyer rather than changing a record that may be evidence. Counsel can advise how to address an error through the proper process.
Identify who received or controlled the funds and what you are alleged to have done. Lack of personal receipt does not automatically resolve liability. Counsel must examine the statute and the claimed participation.
Do not coordinate accounts or pressure anyone about what to say. Give your lawyer the names of people with relevant knowledge and let counsel plan appropriate witness contact.
No. Resolving a payment dispute does not by itself control a prosecutor’s decision. Discuss any proposed repayment, release, or settlement statement with criminal defense counsel before agreeing to it.
Yes. Start with the notice or charge, relevant deadlines, and a clear description of where other records are kept. Call 407-465-8733. The Orlando office is at 5401 S. Kirkman Road, Suite 660, Orlando, FL 32819.
