Maryland Criminal Defense · Baltimore City · Baltimore County · Statewide
Maryland Criminal Defense · Baltimore City · Baltimore County · Statewide
Wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft — federal fraud charges carry decades in federal prison, massive fines, and asset forfeiture. The FBI, Secret Service, and IRS investigate these cases for years before charges are filed. Allan Rombro has defended federal fraud cases in U.S. District Court since 1989.
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Federal fraud and identity theft cases are not limited to large-scale corporate scandals or high-profile financial crimes. A federal indictment can happen to anyone — including those who made one bad decision, those who became caught up in the actions of others, and in some cases, those who are entirely innocent of wrongdoing but are caught in the complex nature of a federal investigation.
What makes these cases uniquely dangerous is the breadth of federal fraud statutes. Wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft charges can each be applied across an enormous range of conduct — and each individual email, phone call, or mailing can constitute a separate count, multiplying exposure dramatically. A single fraud scheme can result in dozens of counts carrying decades of cumulative prison exposure.
The Law Offices of Allan Rombro defends clients against federal fraud charges in the U.S. District Court of Maryland. Allan Rombro has been admitted to federal court since 1989, and has defended clients in complex fraud cases including bank fraud, identity theft, wire fraud conspiracies, and financial scheme prosecutions brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Our goal is always the best outcome: victory at trial, dismissal of charges, or a negotiated resolution to a reduced charge. We are serious about our work because we understand that our clients’ lives and futures depend on us. Call immediately — early intervention is always better.
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18 U.S.C. § 1343
Using any electronic communication — email, phone, text message, internet transfer — as part of a scheme to obtain money or property by fraud. One of the most broadly applied federal statutes; any interstate electronic communication in furtherance of a scheme is sufficient. Each communication is a separate count.
18 U.S.C. § 1341
Using the U.S. Postal Service or any private interstate carrier — FedEx, UPS — to send or receive anything in furtherance of a scheme to defraud. Mail fraud is frequently charged alongside wire fraud and conspiracy, with each mailing constituting a separate count that multiplies total exposure.
18 U.S.C. § 1028
The unlawful transfer, use, or possession of another person's means of identification to commit or aid any federal crime. Federal jurisdiction applies when the scheme involves interstate activity, financial institutions, or electronic communications. From credit card fraud to sophisticated data breaches — all prosecuted in federal court.
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Using another person's identification in connection with a felony offense — wire fraud, bank fraud, passport fraud — triggers a mandatory consecutive 2-year sentence that runs on top of whatever other sentence is imposed. There is no judicial discretion to reduce it. This is one of the most severe mandatory enhancement provisions in the federal code.
18 U.S.C. § 1344
Executing or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud a financial institution or to obtain money under false pretenses. Mortgage fraud, check fraud, loan application fraud, and account takeover schemes all frequently result in federal bank fraud charges. The involvement of a bank or financial institution triggers the enhanced 30-year maximum.
18 U.S.C. § 1347
Submitting false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurers; billing for services not rendered; upcoding; and pharmacy fraud schemes. Healthcare fraud is aggressively prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice and HHS-OIG. If the scheme causes bodily injury, the maximum increases to 20 years; death results in life imprisonment.
Federal fraud investigations in Maryland cover an enormous range of conduct. These are some of the most common scheme types prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Federal fraud investigations in Maryland cover an enormous range of conduct. These are some of the most common scheme types prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Unauthorized use of stolen credit cards, account takeover schemes, skimming operations, and "carding" — purchasing goods or cash advances using fraudulently obtained card data. These cases routinely trigger federal charges when interstate commerce or financial institutions are involved.
False statements on loan applications, inflated appraisals, straw buyer schemes, and predatory lending arrangements. Mortgage fraud investigations by the FBI can encompass entire networks of buyers, sellers, brokers, and attorneys — many of whom had no criminal intent.
Billing for services not provided, upcoding, kickback arrangements, pharmaceutical fraud, and durable medical equipment schemes. The DOJ and HHS-OIG aggressively pursue healthcare fraud — even billing errors can trigger federal investigation if a pattern is detected.
Phishing schemes, online auction fraud, romance scams, advance-fee schemes, and e-commerce deception. Any online scheme using interstate electronic communications falls under federal wire fraud jurisdiction — regardless of the amount of money involved.
Filing false returns, hiding income, using another person's Social Security number to file fraudulently, employment tax fraud, and abusive tax shelters. Tax fraud investigations are conducted by IRS-CI agents who work in close coordination with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Embezzlement, payroll fraud, falsified invoices, and contractor billing schemes. Business fraud prosecutions often sweep up employees, managers, and executives who had varying levels of knowledge — some charged despite having played only a peripheral role in the underlying conduct.
Allan Rombro has successfully defended Marylanders in illegal search and seizure cases for over 35 years. He knows how to attack the state’s case by showing that law enforcement failed to follow the law — and therefore violated your Fourth Amendment rights.
When this occurs, Allan Rombro can often have the case dismissed before it ever reaches a courtroom. In other cases, he will convince a judge or jury that your rights were violated — requiring a verdict of Not Guilty.
If police conducted or attempted to conduct a search of your home, vehicle, or person as part of a drug arrest, call immediately. The circumstances of the search are often the most important factor in your defense.
The Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecute federal fraud cases are highly trained and have the full resources of the United States government at their disposal — FBI forensic accountants, Secret Service financial analysts, IRS-CI agents, and sophisticated digital forensics. This is not a case for someone whose federal experience consists of an occasional appointment.
Federal fraud defense requires a genuine understanding of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines loss calculations, how fraud-specific enhancements work, the discovery process for financial document-heavy cases, the rules governing electronic evidence, and the informal dynamics of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland — in both Baltimore and Greenbelt.
Allan Rombro has been admitted to and practicing in the U.S. District Court of Maryland since 1989. His federal case experience includes bank fraud, high-volume financial schemes, identity theft, tax evasion, and internet sex crimes. He brings over 35 years of genuine federal courtroom experience to every case — and the credibility that comes with it.
Have a question not answered here? Email Allan Rombro for a free, confidential consultation — available 24/7.
Federal identity theft charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1028 apply when the scheme involves interstate activity, financial institutions, or electronic communications crossing state lines — which covers virtually all modern identity theft. Simple federal identity theft carries up to 15 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft (§ 1028A) — using stolen identification in connection with a felony — adds a mandatory consecutive 2-year sentence on top of any other penalty imposed. This mandatory add-on cannot be reduced and must be served in full.
Wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 occurs when someone uses an electronic communication — email, phone call, text message, wire transfer, or internet communication — as part of a scheme to obtain money or property through false pretenses. It carries up to 20 years per count in federal prison. If the scheme affects a financial institution or involves a federal disaster declaration (including COVID relief), the maximum increases to 30 years. Because each individual communication can constitute a separate count, a single scheme can generate dozens of charges with massive cumulative exposure.
Yes. Federal fraud statutes do not require that anyone was actually defrauded or that money changed hands. The existence of a scheme with intent to defraud — and the use of mail or wire communications in furtherance of it — is sufficient for a charge. An attempted scheme, a scheme discovered by the victim early, or a scheme that was never completed can all support federal wire and mail fraud charges. This is one of the most important things to understand about federal fraud prosecution.
Federal identity theft and fraud cases in Maryland are investigated by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and HHS-OIG for healthcare fraud. Multi-agency task forces are common in large-scale financial fraud cases. These agencies are experienced, well-resourced, and thorough — investigations often run for months or years before any arrest or contact with subjects. If you believe you are under investigation, do not wait to contact an attorney.
No — not without an attorney present. You have the right to remain silent and the right to counsel. Politely inform the agents that you would like to speak with an attorney before answering any questions, and contact Allan Rombro immediately. Even truthful, innocent-seeming statements can be mischaracterized, taken out of context, or used to establish elements of a charge you did not know existed. Federal agents are experienced interviewers — having counsel present protects you from that dynamic entirely. The worst thing you can do is try to “explain your way out” of an investigation without legal representation.
The sooner you act, the stronger your defense. Free consultation, available 24/7.
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