Your Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorney request your free consultation

Phoenix Embezzlement Lawyer

Craig Orent Embezzlement may be a white-collar crime, but embezzlement convictions result in severe punishments. If you find yourself accused of embezzlement in Phoenix, Arizona, resist the urge to talk your way out of the situation. Instead, exercise your right to remain silent and your right to an experienced Phoenix embezzlement lawyer.

At Orent Law Offices, PLC, we offer free case assessments. Contact our law office today to speak about your situation.

Why Should I Hire a Criminal Attorney Instead of Defending Myself?

Reasons why you need to hire our Phoenix criminal lawyers instead of defending yourself include:

Embezzlement Convictions Result in Criminal Punishments

A conviction for embezzlement can result in expensive fines and significant prison sentences. You may also lose certain rights. You need an aggressive defense attorney to help you mount a strong defense to the charges.

Your State of Mind is Compromised

After an arrest for embezzlement, you are not in the best frame of mind to make serious decisions about your defense. You are under a great deal of stress. You may be facing personal consequences from the arrest, even before the case is adjudicated.

Our Phoenix embezzlement attorneys understand you may be anxious and not thinking clearly. We are here to provide trusted legal advice to help you weigh all your options from a clear perspective.

Securing Your Release From Custody

An attorney can help you get out of jail pending your trial. Our lawyer walks you through the process of a bond hearing and securing bail. Your case could take months or over a year to come to trial and you do not want to stay in jail pending the trial.

Ensure the Prosecution Follows the Law

The prosecution must follow specific laws related to discovery and the production of evidence. We ensure that the prosecution follows the rules. Our lawyers also protect you from being taken advantage of by aggressive prosecutors that will do anything to increase their winning average.

Thorough Case Analysis

Each embezzlement case is different. We carefully analyze the evidence in your case and the circumstances surrounding your arrest to determine the strengths and weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Through a comprehensive case analysis, we can develop a defense strategy that gives us the best chance of success.

Arizona’s embezzlement laws are complicated. The rules of criminal court can be confusing. Unless you have a thorough understanding of the laws and rules governing your criminal case, you should not attempt to represent yourself.

Negotiating with the Prosecution

Without an attorney, the prosecutor may not take you seriously. The prosecutor may not negotiate in good faith to arrive at a plea deal that is in your best interest.

Our lawyers have developed relationships with local law enforcement agencies by handling numerous criminal cases in Phoenix. They know we are aggressive defense attorneys who are serious about ensuring our clients are treated fairly by the judicial system. For that reason, most prosecutors are willing to negotiate fair deals based on the facts of the case.

Preparing for Trial

There are various matters that we address before your case goes to trial. We may file numerous pre-trial motions, such as motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence.

These motions help ensure a fair trial. In some cases, pre-trial motions could lead to a dismissal of the charges or a reduction of a charge.

Advocating for You in Court

We begin by carefully selecting jurors that appear unbiased. Our lawyers may challenge the prosecution’s evidence and aggressively cross-examining witnesses. We provide a strong defense to the charges, including expert witnesses, when appropriate.

Arguing for Minimal Punishments

If a client pleads guilty or a jury returns a guilty verdict, our job is not over. We forcefully argue for the lightest sentence possible for the charges. Our lawyers prepare a convincing argument as to why you should receive leniency from the court based on the circumstances.

What is Embezzlement?

Embezzlement is often referred to as a “white-collar crime.” As with other white-collar crimes, embezzlement involves a violation of trust. In many cases, embezzlement involves fraud and deceit.

In the state of Arizona, the crime of embezzlement is classified as theft under Arizona Revised Statute §13-1802. It involves taking another person’s property or money that has been entrusted to your care or management.

The difference between embezzlement and other types of theft is that the person committing the theft is in control of the property or money. Other forms of theft generally involve trespassing, such as breaking into a person’s home or vehicle.

Common Types of Embezzlement

In many cases, embezzlement involves taking small amounts of money that go unnoticed. However, those small amounts could total hundreds or even millions of dollars over time. Under Arizona law, each instance of embezzlement can be a separate criminal charge, which may result in consecutive prison sentences.

Embezzlement may involve an elaborate scheme to take millions of dollars or high-value property from wealthy clients. On the other hand, embezzlement could involve a school secretary using petty cash for personal uses. In either case, property entrusted to another person was used for personal gain.

Examples of embezzlement include, but are not limited to:

  • Siphoning funds from accounts
  • Misappropriation of company equipment or property
  • Skimming cash
  • Abuse of corporate credit cards
  • Filing fraudulent reimbursement claims, and
  • Using a client’s trust fund for personal use.

Using any property or money under your control for your benefit that belongs to another person can result in embezzlement charges.

What are the Potential Consequences of Embezzlement in Phoenix, AZ?

Criminal Penalties for Phoenix Embezzlement Convictions

The criminal penalties for embezzlement can be severe. Embezzlement charges are based on the amount of money or property involved in the crime.

Small amounts of stolen money or property may result in a misdemeanor charge. As the value of the stolen property or money increases, the severity of the charges increase.

Charges for embezzlement in Phoenix include:

  • Amounts under $1,000 are Class 1 Misdemeanors
  • Amounts of $1,000 but less than $2,000 are Class 6 Felonies (This category also includes the theft of firearms or animals to be used for fighting.)
  • Amounts of $2,000 but less than $3,000 are Class 5 Felonies
  • Amounts of $3,000 but less than $4,000 are Class 4 Felonies
  • Amounts of $4,000 but less than $25,000 are Class 3 Felonies
  • Amounts of $25,000 or more are Class 2 Felonies

Convictions for embezzlement result in fines and prison sentences. The amount of the fine and the length of the prison sentence depend on the exact charges and the circumstances of the case. However, criminal penalties are not the only consequences of embezzlement charges.

Other Consequences of an Embezzlement Conviction in Phoenix

If you are convicted of embezzlement, you may also experience consequences in your personal life. Fines and jail time may not be the end of the consequences.

You could lose your professional license, gun rights, and voting rights after a felony conviction. Depending on the outcome of the case, your career could be ruined from the damage to your reputation. Even after your debt to society is paid, you must deal with a permanent criminal record.

We Want to Hear Your Side of the Story

Individuals charged with embezzlement include, but are not limited to:

  • Business Executives
  • Accountants
  • Secretaries and Personal Assistants
  • Bank Employees
  • Investors
  • Government Employees
  • Bookkeepers

Most people charged with embezzlement are professionals who have never been charged with a crime in the past. Even though the state has accused you of embezzlement, it must prove the legal elements of the crime to obtain a conviction.

There are always two sides to a story. Our Phoenix embezzlement lawyer wants to hear your story. If you have been arrested or you believe that you are under investigation for embezzlement, it is in your best interest to obtain legal advice as soon as possible.

Cooperating with law enforcement officers can hurt your case. Many people believe if they can just explain their side of the story that the police will understand that they did not mean to do anything wrong. This assumption can result in you being put in prison.

Contact Our Phoenix Embezzlement Lawyers for a Free Case Review

Working with an experienced lawyer ensures that you have all information you need to make the decisions that are best for you.

Contact our law firm now to learn about your legal rights from an experienced embezzlement attorney in Phoenix.

 

Search Our Site

Our Location

Orent Law Offices, PLC

11811 N. Tatum Blvd. STE 3031

Phoenix, Arizona 85028

(480) 656-7301

 

Orent Law Offices Phoenix Criminal Defense Law Firm

Call Now Button