White Collar Embezzlement – Theft at Work

Embezzlement is a property crime involving theft between people with a special relationship or a fiduciary duty of care. The property can be money or physical like cash, stocks, a car, antique, or piece of artwork. When property is embezzled, a person takes the property of another person who entrusted their property to them to manage and maintain for their own personal gain instead of the other person. If you have been arrested and charged with embezzlement crimes in Michigan, contact a Michigan federal embezzlement lawyer today to schedule a consultation regarding your case.

The parties in an embezzlement crime often know each other. They can include a depositor and bank teller, an executor and an estate, or an employee and owner of a business. Penalties can be extensive for a violation of embezzlement laws in Michigan, so an experienced federal defense lawyer is essential to help to build your defense as soon as possible.

The suspected embezzler generally has legal access to the property of another person but not ownership of the property.

The penalties following a conviction for embezzlement in Michigan depend on the value of the property taken, type of relationship between the suspected person and the person harmed, and whether the suspected person has any prior criminal convictions.

• Money or property less than $200: up to $500 fine or three times the value of the embezzled property; up to 93 days in jail, or both
• Money or property between $200 and $1,000: up to $1,200 fine or three times the value of the embezzled property; up to one year in jail, or both
• Money or property between $1,000 and $20,000: up to $10,000 fine or three times the value of the embezzled property; up to five years in jail, or both
• Money or property between $20,000 and $50,000: up to $15,000 fine or three times the value of the embezzled property; up to ten years in jail, or both
• Money or property between $50,000 and $100,000: up to $25,000 fine or three times the value of the embezzled property; up to fifteen years in jail, or both
• Money or property more than $100,000: up to $50,000 fine or three times the value of the embezzled property; up to twenty years in jail, or both

In the entire penalty phase or category, enhanced penalties are added if the monies or property taken are from a nonprofit corporation or charitable organization and the criminal suspect has prior criminal convictions. In each of these cases, it is important to consult with a Michigan federal embezzlement attorney so they can begin examining the evidence and building a defense.

In a violation of Michigan embezzlement laws, the suspected person and the person injured maintain a special relationship that is violated when theft occurs. Some additional penalties are assessed following criminal convictions when the following types of special relationships exist.

• Holder of Public Office
• Administrator
• Executor
• Guardian
• Bank Teller
• Trust Company
• Credit Union Employee
• Warehouse worker
• Property Courier

If accused of embezzlement while acting in any of these roles it is imperative to seek the counsel of a federal embezzlement lawyer in Michigan.

If you have been arrested and are facing embezzlement charges in Michigan, a Michigan embezzlement lawyer can help. The monetary penalties and possible jail sentences are long in embezzlement cases. It is important to begin a legal defense right away.

Legal representation during all phases of a federal criminal matter are available through a Michigan federal embezzlement lawyer.

Among the services offered are legal assistance at arraignment, during bail hearings, at grand jury phase, during preliminary hearings, during the plea-bargaining phase, in motion practice, and trial, if necessary.