Some defense options when charged with embezzlement

On Behalf of | Jan 17, 2023 | Firm News

White collar crime allegations, regardless of the specific offense involved, can quickly throw your life into a tailspin if you don’t get a handle on it quickly. It can damage your reputation, cause you to lose your job, destroy your relationships and threaten you with jail or prison time.

What defense options are available to you?

But with so much on the line, how do you go about defending yourself against embezzlement charges? Let’s look at a few of the defense options that may be available to you:

  • Good faith: If you thought that you were taking the money in question for a legitimate business purpose or that you were directed to do so by your employer, you may be able to escape conviction.
  • Lack of intent: Similarly, if the prosecution can’t demonstrate that you intended to take the money for your own personal gain, you might be able to beat the charges levied against you. So, think through how you can minimize a showing of your intent.
  • Lack of actual taking: Sometimes, law enforcement and prosecutors simply have the wrong person. If this is the situation in your case, you need to figure out how to effectively deflect the blame.
  • Dispute the amount taken: The penalties imposed for embezzlement often depend on the amount that was taken. If you can reduce the provable amount, you may skate by with lighter penalties.

Do you need an advocate on your side?

There are a lot of different ways to approach your case. If the evidence against you is insurmountable, you may want to try to negotiate the best plea deal you can manage. But there might also be an opening for you to win the case and obtain an acquittal.

However, you won’t know which option is best for you until you fully analyze the facts and the evidence at hand. An attorney who is experienced in handling white collar crime cases, like those pertaining to embezzlement, might be able to assist you in figuring out your best path forward and developing the defense strategy that protects your interests as fully as possible.