Background:
This case involves a real legal matter in which lawyer Sandra Márquez successfully defended Pedro in a criminal proceeding where he was falsely accused of committing fraud. Certain details and images have been modified to protect the privacy of those involved.
Pedro, a respected university professor, found himself wrongfully implicated in a fraudulent scheme when his identity was misused by scammers to deceive a victim through a fake online advertisement for the adoption of a Siberian Husky puppy. The victim, believing they were adopting a dog located in Dublin, made several payments covering transportation and insurance costs, totaling €270.
However, once the money had been transferred, the supposed donor of the puppy ceased all communication. Upon reporting the scam, law enforcement traced the phone number used in the transaction and discovered it was registered under Pedro’s name—an account he was completely unaware of.
Faced with this serious situation and the initiation of criminal proceedings, Pedro sought legal representation from lawyer Sandra Márquez to prove his innocence and prevent an unjust conviction.
Defense Strategy:
To establish Pedro’s innocence, we presented extensive documentary evidence demonstrating that he had no connection to the fraudulent scheme. Our defense was primarily based on the lack of conclusive proof to rebut his presumption of innocence:
- Absence of a contractual link: There was no evidence proving that Pedro had personally subscribed to the phone line in question. We challenged law enforcement’s failure to conduct proper investigative steps, such as obtaining the service contract with his signature, email correspondence with the provider, voice recordings, or records confirming whether the contract was made in person or online.
- Lack of forensic analysis: If the phone contract had been made online, a digital forensic examination should have been conducted to determine the IP address of the device used for the transaction. The absence of such an analysis weakened the prosecution’s case.
- Pedro’s professional background: We submitted official documentation certifying Pedro’s long-standing academic career, emphasizing that his professional profile was entirely inconsistent with that of a fraudster.
- Alibi evidence: We provided conclusive proof that on the day the scammer allegedly claimed to be in Dublin with the puppy, Pedro was, in fact, in Valencia, delivering university lectures.
Outcome:
Thanks to a robust and well-founded defense strategy, we successfully demonstrated that Pedro had no involvement in the fraud. The court rendered an acquittal, fully exonerating him of any criminal liability.
