Credit card fraud is charged as a felony in New York. Offenders can face harsh penalties, with aggressive prosecutors looking to come down hard on everything from using a forged card to stealing data for unauthorized purchases.

A former operator of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber business based in Great Neck, New York, was accused of credit card fraud and wire fraud. He was sentenced to three years in prison in federal court in Central Islip.

Marcello Sozio, 65, ran a scheme to defraud a customer, banks and business partners. The court ordered him to pay around $1.1 million in forfeiture and restitution to those affected by the scheme.

Sozio engaged in credit card fraud from September to December 2016. He made around $230,000 in fraudulent credit card charges to a minor patient’s parents. The parents paid for medical services at his facility. However, Sozio failed to provide the services.

The wire fraud charges arose from Sozio’s unauthorized loan applications. From March 2014 to December 2016, Sozio got loans totaling $770,000 for his business. In his applications, he falsely stated that he had his business partners’ authorization to apply for loans on their behalf for a joint business venture.

However, the partners had not authorized the loan applications. Sozio committed hand and electronic forgery of their signatures on loan documents. He also pretended to be a business partner while on a call with a lender.

Anyone accused of credit card fraud or other fraud-related charges should immediately get in touch with an experienced New York criminal defense lawyer. Brill Legal Group is ready to stand by your side and fight the charges.

Our attorneys know how to examine the evidence against you and obtain the best possible outcome in your case. Sometimes we can get the charges reduced or dismissed entirely, or our firm may be able to get you a plea bargain. Contact us today to learn more.