Federal Wire Fraud Defense Attorney in South Carolina
Charged with Wire Fraud in Federal Court? Get Experienced Legal Help Now.
Wire fraud is one of the most commonly charged federal crimes in South Carolina and across the country. Prosecutors use it broadly to pursue a wide range of alleged conduct involving emails, phone calls, texts, or online transactions - all of which are considered “wire” activity. If any part of a criminal scheme involves any of these things, and most of what people do every day does, wire fraud is a potential criminal charge. If you’ve been charged with or are under investigation for wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, you need an aggressive and strategic defense immediately.
At the Law Offices of Nathan S. Williams, we represent clients throughout South Carolina facing federal fraud charges, including complex wire fraud indictments. Nathan Williams is a former Criminal Chief at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina and has prosecuted and defended some of the state's most high-profile white-collar cases.
Call (843) 473-7000 now for a Free Confidential Consultation if you are being investigated or have been charged with wire fraud.
What Is Federal Wire Fraud? (18 U.S.C. § 1343)
Wire fraud is defined as:
"A scheme or artifice to defraud using interstate wire communications," including email, phone, text, internet, or other electronic means.
The government must prove:
A scheme to defraud (intentionally misrepresenting or omitting material facts),
Use of interstate wire communications in furtherance of that scheme,
Intent to defraud.
Significantly, each use of wire communication can be charged as a separate count, dramatically increasing potential penalties.
Common Wire Fraud Scenarios We Defend
Nathan Williams defends individuals and businesses facing allegations involving:
Online business fraud or misrepresentation
Financial advisor or investment-related fraud
Real estate wire fraud
Insurance or benefit fraud involving wire communication
Internal embezzlement with email-based deception
Charitable or nonprofit fundraising fraud
Wire fraud is frequently charged alongside other offenses such as:
Mail fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341)
Bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344)
Money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956)
Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 371)
Federal prosecutors often use wire fraud as a catch-all when financial misconduct is suspected.
Potential Penalties for Federal Wire Fraud
Convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 carry:
Up to 20 years in federal prison (30 years if involving financial institutions or disaster relief)
Fines of up to $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 for organizations
Restitution orders to pay back alleged losses
Asset forfeiture of homes, vehicles, accounts, or property tied to the alleged scheme
Permanent felony conviction on your record
In white-collar cases, federal sentencing is driven by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, especially:
The amount of financial loss
Number of victims
Whether sophisticated means were used
Strategic Defense Against Wire Fraud Charges
Nathan Williams uses a multi-pronged defense approach:
Challenging the "intent to defraud" – Honest business disputes, accounting errors, or miscommunications are not wire fraud. The government must prove criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt.
Attacking government assumptions about "material misstatements" – Many wire fraud indictments rely on assumptions about what victims relied on. We examine the facts closely.
Forensic accounting and expert witnesses – In complex financial fraud cases, we work with experts to rebut government loss calculations.
Pre-trial negotiation or declination – In some cases, we can avoid charges entirely by intervening early and presenting a strong defense during the investigation.
Trial defense – If needed, we are fully prepared to fight wire fraud charges in federal court before a jury.
Why Choose Nathan Williams for Wire Fraud Defense?
Former Criminal Chief, U.S. Attorney’s Office (SC) – Nathan supervised federal white-collar prosecutions and understands the DOJ's strategies.
24+ years of experience in criminal law – including more than 14 years in federal court.
Lead prosecutor in nationally reported financial crime and public corruption cases.
Experience defending executives, professionals, and business owners in federal investigations.
Based in Charleston, SC, and defending clients statewide (Columbia, Florence, Greenville, Myrtle Beach).
Learn more about Nathan’s background
Schedule a Free Confidential Consultation
Wire fraud charges move quickly and carry serious consequences. If you’ve received a subpoena, target letter, or indictment — or if federal agents have contacted you — don’t wait.
Call (843) 473-7000 today or contact us online to schedule your Free Confidential Consultation with Nathan Williams.
We handle federal wire fraud defense across South Carolina and are ready to protect your rights and your future.