Los Angeles Consumer Fraud Lawyers

Our criminal lawyers aggressively defend individuals on Consumer Fraud charges. With more than 50 years experience, and as former senior Los Angeles prosecutors, we are aware of how the government builds its case, and aggressively work to exploit the weaknesses in the evidence even before the case reaches the courtroom. Consumer Fraud is organized into several areas under the misdemeanor prosecution powers of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for fraud practices - Immigration, Contractor, Auto Insurance, Solicitation, Loan Scams, and Credit Repair Fraud. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office prosecutes these criminal fraud cases as well, but typically as felony matters.

Los Angeles Criminal Defense of all consumer felony and misdemeanor fraud matters requires timely intervention, especially due to the aggressive prosecution practices in Los Angeles and Southern California courtrooms. Often our L.A. Criminal Lawyer’s aggressive intervention can result in a felony theft matter being reduced to a misdemeanor charge, or even dropped before it reaches a courtroom.
In Los Angeles courts, one area of criminal law enforcement scrutiny is Immigration Consultant fraud, which includes the investigation of people who are not attorneys, but pretend to be by misadvising clients about areas of law they have no expertise in, nor appropriate licensing. Under California law, an immigration consultant cannot provide a client with any advice on immigration matters. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office feels these consultants are not lawyers and should not give legal advice. An immigration consultant may only provide assistance with translating information, locating and securing documents, and completing immigration forms.

Another area of criminal investigation by Los Angeles prosecutors is Contractor Fraud. Often contractors have legal issues related to appropriate licensing, bonding, and pending complaints. Crimes of theft, fraud, and other legal matters are aggressively investigated and prosecuted as both felonies and misdemeanors. The decision to file charges depends on the level of loss, as well as the age and level vulnerability of the alleged victim. Again, Los Angeles Criminal Attorneys defend these allegations immediately, ensuring that restitution if any is paid, and that felony charges are reduced.

Another well-known area for police investigation is Auto Repair Fraud, which includes not having proper licensing and providing fraudulent estimates/work inquiries. The police often set up sting operations to seek the filing of felony charges. Again swift and strategic legal action by a criminal defense lawyer can mean the difference between jail and no custody time in Los Angeles courts.

Finally, Loan Scamming is a related area of criminal prosecution — money is taken from a consumer, under the guise of a loan promise that never materializes. Or, a consumer’s equity is taken under the false promise of a home improvement, or refinancing. These are fraud matters that Los Angeles criminal lawyers defend as either felony or misdemeanor cases. Southern California consumer fraud matters are typically aggressively prosecuted, and thus the criminal defense of these matters needs to be equally aggressive.

For our clients' convenience, we have offices in the vicinity of courthouses in Antelope Valley, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Fernando, South Bay, Ventura, Valencia, Whittier, and San Bernardino, and we are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our main office is directly across the street from the Van Nuys Court and the Van Nuys LAPD Jail.

Contact Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today!