Retail fraud convictions can have many bad consequences in a person’s life. Incarceration, probation with harsh and expensive conditions, loss of employment, damage to reputation, immigration problems for aliens, potential travel visa prohibitions, difficulties obtaining student and personal loans, professional licensing problems, fear, anxiety – the list of problems go…
Being detained or even handcuffed for a shoplifting allegation is the worst feeling. The biggest questions are: what will happen next?. Will the store prosecute? The store won’t prosecute, but the prosecutor for the city or county where the offense allegedly occurred will usually file a case. The store will…
A common question when someone is arrested for retail fraud is: “Will I be placed on probation?”. Another common question is: “Can I avoid Jail?”. When a person is arrested there is often a fear of the unknown. “What will happen to me?”. “What will the Judge do?”. Although probation…
A charge of retail fraud can have lasting consequences on a person’s life. In some circumstances a conviction for retail fraud may result in any of the following: loss of employment; licensing issues for professionals; immigration consequences for persons that are not United States citizens; trouble with traveling to foreign…
In Michigan when a person is accused by a store, detained by loss prevention, or arrested by police, for retail fraud it is not uncommon for that person to receive a letter in the mail asking for civil damages. These are referred to as Civil Demand Letters. The letter is…
There are 3 different ways a person can be charged with felony retail fraud: First, an allegation of theft, or attempted theft, from a store that is open to the public with the price of the merchandise being $1000 (one thousand dollars) or more. This is referred to as First…
Most people have never had to go through the experience of hiring a lawyer. When arrested for retail fraud, sometimes it is difficult to determine the next step to take. Obviously a lawyer is a top priority, but the question becomes which lawyer to hire. Finding and choosing a…
In Michigan once a ticket for Retail Fraud (also known as shoplifting or retail theft) is issued, or a criminal charge is filed (or sworn to) at the district court, the first court date is known as the arraignment. There are several things that occur at an arraignment. First, the Defendant…
It is not uncommon for a minor to commit retail fraud (or shoplifting). The reasons for this include: peer pressure; greed; the feeling of invincibility; psychological reasons; etc.; etc. It is always upsetting for a parent to learn that their child got into trouble, and the range of emotions…
Twelve Oaks Mall is a popular shopping destination due to its collection of great stores. Nordstrom, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, the Apple Store, and Lululemon Athletica, and Victoria’s Secret are a few of it’s most sought after destinations. One of the issues that Twelve Oaks and its merchants deal with…