I was scammed from check fraud?

There are a lot of scams out there just like this. They come to your inbox and most of the time are written by someone who is a family member of a decendant in an international country and they are seeking your help to get this money with them paying you a percentage. The connection? Most of the time your last name matches the persons on the check. Everyone should know by now these are scams. The fact that they sent you a check for $3251.00 and you only sent back $2781.00 will prove that you knew what you was doing fully. You got a percentage of what the fake check was made out for. The real criminals are on a remote island calling you a dummy and partying the money away cause they know it will be hard for them to be traced. Most mystery shopper companies that are legit pay your per occurance with a company check after the shop is done. Not while the shop is being done. That means you had to have cashed the check and sent the asking balance to them via money gram. That should have been a red light right there. Yes, the bank does have a right to prosecute you to the fullest in the court of law. They have a right to recoup the money they lost plus attorney fees. If you use a public defender make sure he gets to know you well. Don't let them forget your name. That way you know that they are focused on your case. You should also try to get your hands on a copy of that check also the money gram to show the place where the check came from and where in the world the money was sent. It's hard to say if you will get time for this. It is something that the courts take seriously so make sure when you go before the judge you express in every way that you did not realize you was being scammed until after the bank contacted you. As far as your record. There is no telling. If your attorney can get you off there is a possibility that you can,but if he can't, it will be on there. Get ALL of your information about this bogus company together. And remember for future references you need to check with the Better Business Bureau before you work with another company. They will tell you if it is bogus. Good Luck!