In Mississippi it is illegal to use a credit card to buy something when that card or the number on it has been fraudulently obtained. It’s also illegal to represent without the consent of the cardholder that you are the holder of that card, or that you are the holder when the card has not been issued, or that you’ve been authorized to use that card.
Mississippi credit card fraud can carry many penalties. The punishment is going to depend on the dollar amount for which the card was used to buy something, but unlike a lot of economic crimes the threshold is very low for a felony. Under the law a first offense of less than $100 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than a year.
But if it’s $100 or more, even just for a first offense, it’s a felony. The punishment is a fine up to $1,000 and up to three years in prison.
If you’ve been charged with credit card fraud in Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, or other parts of North Mississippi, you should seek out an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Likewise, if you find you have a warrant because of an allegation of unauthorized credit card use, you need to deal with it proactively. As a Southaven attorney for fraudulent credit card charges, I help clients fight these difficult cases. I gather evidence, negotiate with the prosecuting attorney, and if necessary prepare for trial. If it’s possible to keep a client out of jail and allow them to have the charge taken off their record, I’ll do that. That’s always a good option for first-time offenders who wish to avoid a permanent conviction.
For help with your case, contact Mississippi criminal defense lawyer Patrick Stegall at 901-205-9894 or pstegall@stegall-law.com.
