Embezzlement is a criminal charge leveled against a person who is alleged to have taken money or property that they were trusted with managing or handling in some way for themselves. This could involve taking petty cash from an employer, diverting an employer’s funds for personal use, or otherwise taking funds one has been “put in charge of” for the purpose of personal gain. If you live in the Bay Area and have been accused of embezzling funds, contact an embezzlement attorney to discuss your case.
A cashier who slips money from a till into their own pocket could be charged with embezzlement, as could a family member who acts as conservator over another family member (for example, an elderly or severely disabled person) and then uses that power to take the money entrusted to their care for their own wallet. Embezzlement can also involve less literal forms of taking funds such as through defrauding.
The type of charge you face is dependent upon the amount of money or the value of the property that was allegedly embezzled. A cashier taking small bills from the register may be charged with a misdemeanor offense if the total value of the funds taken is less than 950 dollars. However, let’s consider another example where the charge could be felonious. If a company is entrusted with a large sum of money (totaling over 950 dollars) donated for the purpose of benefitting a specific charity and that company instead diverts those funds for the personal gain of its board members, then those board members could face felony embezzlement charges.
While the California Penal Code Section 503 gives us the definition of embezzlement and differentiates it from other forms of theft or larceny, the penalties for those convicted of embezzlement are decided using the penalties for petit theft or grand theft as outlined in California Penal Code Sections 484, 487 and 488. Embezzlement of smaller amounts that qualify as misdemeanor offenses and may be punishable by half a year in county jail. However, embezzlement of larger amounts (or of specific items such as guns or cars) that qualify as felonies could face several years behind bars in state prison.
When facing embezzlement charges, you want to know that you have the best embezzlement attorney in Brentwood on your side. The lawyers at Okabe and Haushalter are knowledgeable professionals with a track record of successfully defending their clients in the courtroom. A competent, aggressive attorney can fight to get your charges reduced if possible and your sentence reduced if convicted. You can contact us right now for an evaluation at no cost to you, and we can help you put together a rock-solid defense against the criminal charges you face. There is absolutely no risk to you, and you stand to regain control of your life, so call today.