Accusations of theft and fraud are always taken seriously. However, when you are accused of stealing from your employer or a person who trusted you, there is an additional layer to the case. When you are accused of taking money and property you were trusted with, it is not considered petty theft. Instead, it is considered a white collar crime, and a conviction could ruin your career.
If you have been charged with embezzlement or you are under investigation, you should contact an experienced Lansing embezzlement attorney right away. You should have a lawyer by your side during any police questioning to ensure your rights are protected and you do not inadvertently incriminate yourself. Additionally, the sooner a lawyer is on your case, the sooner they can investigate every aspect of the accusations and begin to build a strong defense. There are ways to defend yourself against embezzlement charges and to fight to protect your reputation and career.
To learn more about embezzlement charges and your legal options, call a Lansing theft lawyer at DeBruin Law, PLLC at 517-324-4303 and schedule a free case evaluation.
Under MCL 750.174, it is illegal for any agent, employee, servant, bailee or trustee to embezzle from a person, government entity or business through their position of trust and power. A person is guilty of embezzlement when they use their position to fraudulently dispose of, convert or take without consent the money or property of another person, government entity or business, which was under their control or accessible through their job.
A common example of embezzlement is a businessperson who has access to their employer’s financial accounts. The employee, due to their rights and responsibilities at the business, has the ability to move money from the company accounts into their own. The employee might also alter business records to cover up the fraudulent movement of funds or to make it look like a valid transaction.
However, embezzlement does not just occur on large scales. Employees of a retail store or restaurant can embezzle by withholding cash from transactions and taking it for themselves.
Another example occurs when an employee embezzles property. A manufacturing worker may steal raw materials used to make a product and sell them. Additionally, a delivery driver may steal finished goods in order to use or sell, or an office worker may steal office supplies.
Embezzlement comes in a variety of forms, and it can occur through and in conjunction with forgery, money laundering, tax fraud, bank fraud, extortion, blackmail, credit card fraud, computer fraud and other theft and fraud offenses. If you have been accused of embezzlement, you should contact a Lansing embezzlement lawyer right away.
Like other theft crimes, the specific charge and potential penalties depend on the value of the property stolen.
If you are convicted of embezzlement, whether as a misdemeanor or felony, you can expect it to have a significant impact on your life. After a period of incarceration, you will have to deal with a number of secondary consequences from having a permanent criminal record.
Your education and career will be affected. An embezzlement conviction may make it difficult to gain acceptance to a college or graduate program. You may be prohibited from obtaining certain professional licenses, or you may have a much harder time being approved for a professional license. There are certain jobs you may be entirely barred from, such as government jobs. Even if you can legally hold a certain position, employers may hesitate to hire someone who stole from a person or business they worked with.
The consequences also go beyond your education and career. A criminal conviction can impact your child custody agreement. The other parent may use this offense as leverage to obtain full custody or to force you to go through supervised visitation. It may also alter your immigration status. You could be denied visa renewal, permanent residency or citizenship. If you are undocumented, you could be deported.
Additionally, if you were convicted of a felony, you will also lose your right to own firearms. If you are facing embezzlement charges, you should not hesitate to reach out to a Lansing embezzlement attorney right away for help with your case.
Your attorney may have one or more defenses to an embezzlement charge such as:
If you have suddenly been arrested for embezzlement or you are a party of interest in an investigation, the first thing you need to do is invoke your right to remain silent. The next thing to do is call a Lansing embezzlement attorney. You may feel the right thing to do is be honest and defend yourself to your employer or the police. However, whatever you say in front of an officer can be used against you, and it is entirely possible that you will make yourself look bad while trying to prove you are innocent. Instead, let a lawyer help you through an investigation.
An experienced attorney at DeBruin Law, PLLC will ensure your rights are always protected and that you cooperate with an investigation while never accidentally incriminating yourself. If prosecutors move forward with charges, an experienced Lansing theft lawyer attorney will thoroughly analyze your case and build a strong defense on your behalf.
Contact us at 517-324-4303 to schedule a free case consultation to discuss what embezzlement charges mean and the best way to defend yourself in court.
