Written By Zachary Newland, Founding Partner. Last revised August 3, 2026.

Defending Federal Bank Fraud Charges in Dallas and Plano, Texas

Bank fraud prosecutions in the Northern District of Texas carry penalties that can reshape a professional’s entire future. If you are a business owner, executive, or professional in Dallas or Plano who is under investigation or facing charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1344, you need to understand exactly what the federal government is building against you, how the Northern District handles these cases, and what steps you should take right now to protect yourself.

If federal agents have contacted you or you have received a federal document, contact Evergreen Attorneys at (214) 666-6558 before responding or producing information.

 

On This Page

• How Federal Bank Fraud Cases Work in the Northern District of Texas
• Federal Bank Fraud Charges and Investigation Types in Dallas and Plano
• What to Do During a Federal Bank Fraud Investigation
• Why Dallas and Plano Defendants Choose Evergreen Attorneys
• How Evergreen Attorneys Defends Federal Bank Fraud Cases
• Frequently Asked Questions

How Federal Bank Fraud Cases Work in the Northern District of Texas

Federal bank fraud charges arising from conduct in Dallas, Plano, and the surrounding Collin County area are filed in the Dallas Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas or the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District or the Eastern District prosecutes these cases, typically in coordination with federal investigative agencies such as the FBI, FDIC Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigation. It is important to always remember: Plano and many of the north-Dallas suburbs may be part of DFW, but federal cases from Plano and other areas will be handled out of East Texas.

Under 18 U.S.C. § 1344, the government must prove that a defendant knowingly executed, or attempted to execute, a scheme to defraud a financial institution or to obtain money, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by or under the custody or control of a financial institution by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises. The statute applies to any federally insured bank, credit union, or savings institution.

A conviction under § 1344 carries a statutory maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million when the offense affects a financial institution. The general federal statute of limitations for bank fraud is five years under 18 U.S.C. § 3282, though certain financial-institution offenses may carry extended limitations periods.

In particular, PPP/EIDL loan fraud cases now have an extended statute of limitations of 10 years. You can read about that at our prior blog post here: https://evergreenattorneys.com/white-collar-crime/ppp-loan-statute-of-limitations/

Actual sentences in the Northern District of Texas and the Eastern District of Texas are driven by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, particularly the loss table in §2B1.1 of the Guidelines Manual. The loss amount is the single most important variable in calculating a defendant’s advisory guideline range.

Additional enhancements can apply for sophisticated means, the number of victims, abuse of a position of trust, use of special skills, or a leadership role in the offense. These enhancements can push advisory ranges dramatically higher, even for first-time offenders with no criminal history.

Federal Bank Fraud Charges and Investigation Types in Dallas and Plano

Federal bank fraud investigations in Dallas and Plano involve a range of conduct that triggers § 1344 exposure. The government pursues these cases aggressively because banks are federally insured institutions and financial system integrity is a core federal enforcement priority.

Common categories of conduct that lead to federal bank fraud charges in this market include:

• Submitting false or inflated information on commercial or residential loan applications
• Check kiting, altered-check schemes, and fraudulent deposit practices
• Wire transfers initiated through misrepresentation or unauthorized access
• Misuse of business accounts to divert funds through fabricated invoices or unauthorized disbursements
• Identity-based schemes targeting bank accounts or lines of credit
• PPP Loan Fraud
• EIDL Loan Fraud

Many bank fraud investigations begin with a Suspicious Activity Report filed by a financial institution, which can trigger parallel inquiries by multiple federal agencies. Professionals and business owners in Dallas and Plano should understand that what begins as a compliance inquiry at a bank can escalate into a federal criminal investigation without warning.

Bank fraud charges also frequently overlap with other federal offenses, including federal fraud crimes such as wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343), mail fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. The government often layers charges to maximize sentencing leverage.

What to Do During a Federal Bank Fraud Investigation

The period before an indictment is filed is the most important phase of any federal bank fraud case. Decisions made during a pre-indictment investigation directly affect whether charges are brought, which statutes are used, how the loss amount is framed, and whether the government seeks enhancements under the sentencing guidelines.

If you learn that you are under investigation, whether through agent contact, a federal grand jury subpoena, a federal target letter, or a third-party tip, take these steps immediately:

1. Do not speak with federal agents, produce documents, or make voluntary statements before consulting counsel.
2. Retain a federal criminal defense attorney experienced in Northern District of Texas or Eastern District of Texas bank fraud matters.
3. Preserve all documents, communications, and records related to the transactions under scrutiny; destroying or altering evidence can result in separate obstruction charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1519.
4. Identify any parallel civil, regulatory, or compliance proceedings that may share facts with the criminal investigation.
5. Do not discuss the investigation with business partners, co-workers, or anyone else who may be a witness or subject.

Early retention of counsel allows a defense attorney to open communication channels with the assigned AUSA, respond strategically to grand jury subpoenas, assert Fifth Amendment protections where appropriate, and potentially negotiate a resolution before an indictment is returned.

Why Dallas and Plano Defendants Choose Evergreen Attorneys

Evergreen Attorneys provides partner-level federal criminal defense to professionals and business owners facing bank fraud investigations and charges in Dallas and Plano. Every case is handled directly by a partner, not delegated to junior associates or contract attorneys.

Founding Partner Zachary Newland focuses on high-stakes federal criminal defense, including federal white collar crime cases involving financial institutions, and has appeared as counsel of record in more than 120 federal cases since 2016. The firm maintains an office at 5465 Legacy Drive, Suite 650, in Plano, Texas, positioning it to serve clients throughout the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas as well as the Eastern District of Texas.

Evergreen Attorneys’ proven federal litigation record, including a unanimous Supreme Court victory, reflects the caliber of advocacy the firm brings to complex bank fraud matters where the stakes are severe and the government’s resources are substantial.

How Evergreen Attorneys Defends Federal Bank Fraud Cases

Federal bank fraud defense in Dallas and Plano requires a strategy built around the specific facts of the case and the procedural realities of the Northern District of Texas and the Eastern District of Texas. Evergreen Attorneys addresses federal bank fraud cases across every critical phase.

During the pre-indictment investigation stage, the firm works to manage interactions with the FBI, FDIC-OIG, and IRS-CI, respond strategically to grand jury subpoenas and target letters, and preserve exculpatory evidence. The objective is to influence whether charges are filed at all and, if they are, to limit their scope.

When charges are filed, Evergreen Attorneys focuses on challenging the government’s proof of intent to defraud, which is a required element under § 1344 that the prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt. Common defenses include demonstrating that the defendant acted in good faith, that representations were not material, or that there was no scheme to defraud as defined by statute.

At sentencing, the firm conducts a detailed analysis of the federal sentencing guidelines loss table under §2B1.1 to challenge the government’s loss calculations and resist guideline enhancements. Because the loss amount drives the advisory range, a successful challenge to the government’s loss figure can reduce a defendant’s exposure by years.

Evergreen Attorneys also identifies and addresses parallel civil or regulatory proceedings that can affect the criminal case, including Dallas federal healthcare fraud and white collar defense matters that sometimes intersect with bank fraud investigations involving healthcare businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is federal bank fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1344?

Federal bank fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1344 is the intentional use of false or fraudulent pretenses to obtain money, funds, or other property owned by or under the custody of a financial institution, or to defraud a financial institution itself. A conviction can carry up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million when the offense affects a federally insured bank. In Dallas and Plano, federal bank fraud charges are typically brought in the Northern District of Texas and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Allegations often involve loan applications, check schemes, wire transfers, or misuse of business accounts.

How does the federal sentencing guidelines loss table affect bank fraud sentencing?

The loss table in §2B1.1 of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual assigns offense-level increases based on the amount of actual or intended loss attributed to the defendant. Higher loss amounts produce higher advisory guideline ranges, which can result in significantly longer prison sentences even for defendants with no prior criminal history. Additional enhancements for sophisticated means, number of victims, or role in the offense can compound the advisory range. Challenging the government’s loss calculations is one of the most consequential parts of federal bank fraud defense in the Eastern District of Texas and the Northern District of Texas.

Your attorney should be explaining the federal loss table under 2B1.1 to you from your initial consultation.

What happens if I ignore a federal grand jury subpoena or target letter related to bank fraud?

Ignoring a federal grand jury subpoena connected to a bank fraud investigation can result in contempt proceedings. Ignoring a target letter means you lose the opportunity to influence how the government views your role before an indictment is filed. In the Northern District of Texas, prosecutors and agents expect timely, good-faith responses, typically coordinated through counsel rather than direct contact. Strategic engagement by a federal defense attorney can narrow the scope of demanded records and protect your Fifth Amendment rights while positioning you as cooperative rather than obstructive.

When should someone facing a federal bank fraud investigation in Dallas or Plano retain defense counsel?

Retain federal defense counsel immediately upon learning of any federal investigative activity directed at you, whether that comes in the form of agent contact, a grand jury subpoena, a target letter, or information from a business associate or financial institution. The pre-indictment phase is when defense counsel has the greatest opportunity to influence whether charges are filed, which statutes are used, and how the government calculates the loss amount under the sentencing guidelines. Waiting until after an indictment is returned forfeits those opportunities and limits the available defense strategies.

If you are facing a federal bank fraud investigation or charges in Dallas or Plano, Texas, contact Evergreen Attorneys or email Zachary Newland at [email protected] for a confidential case evaluation today.