Winchester Embezzlement Lawyer

Embezzlement Attorney in Winchester, VA

At Amable Law, we understand that being arrested for embezzlement can be a traumatic experience. However, if you are arrested and charged with a crime, it is vital that you take advantage of your Miranda rights—do not say anything to the police until you have spoken with your knowledgeable Winchester criminal defense attorney. Often, many defendants unintentionally incriminate themselves in their interactions with the police during their arrest.

Our embezzlement attorneys in Winchester have years of experience in legal proceedings and can help guide you through the specific processes of your case. We make a point to personally communicate with each of our clients, every step of the way to maintain honest and open communication, and fight aggressively for their best interests.

What is Embezzlement?

In the Code of Virginia § 18.2-111, embezzlement is considered a specific type of larceny (theft). What makes this its own category of property-deprivation is that, in a case of embezzlement, a person has taken advantage of the trust of another person by using, disposing, or embezzling their money or personal property in a wrongful or fraudulent manner.

In other words, instead of sneaking into someone’s house and stealing money, a person who has been convicted of embezzlement is someone who was entrusted with someone else’s money or property and decides to take it without permission.

The most common example of this occurs in the workforce when an employee is entrusted with their employer’s money (for a small-scale example: a cashier) and sneaks some of it home with them.

Though embezzlement often takes this form of stealing from an employer, it can also take place in other situations, such as in the case of a family member or a close friend who was entrusted with the following and taking the money for their own use:

• Bank account
• Credit card
• Trust

Which Class of Felony is Embezzlement in Virginia?

Virginia considers embezzlement a “Class U” felony, meaning it is unclassified. The penalty for a conviction on this charge is a fine of up to $2,500 and/or jail time of up to 20 years. You will also be required to pay restitution to the victims.

Restitution is money that is paid back to the victim of a crime by the perpetrator to make up for the property that they stole or damaged. Restitution is a way for the court to help the victim recoup some or all of their losses.

Punishments for Embezzlement in Virginia

The sentencing for embezzlement and larceny, in general, depends largely on the value of the stolen property. The larger the value of the money or property stolen, the more severe the consequences will be.

That being said, consequences for embezzlement extend beyond the legal sentencing, especially if the crime involves stealing from an employer, which embezzlement usually does.

Some consequences for a person convicted of embezzlement may include:

• Restitution payments to the owner
• Jail time (the length of which depending on the value of the stolen property)
• Fines (usually up to $2500)
• Loss of employment
• A misdemeanor or felony on his/her record
• Potential difficulty in gaining future employment
• Potential difficulty in housing options

We Are With You Every Step of the Way

If you are being accused or investigated for embezzlement, make sure that you speak with a Winchester criminal defense attorney from our firm immediately. We can navigate you through every step of the way and help you understand your rights.

We are knowledgeable in proven defense strategies for embezzlement and have helped countless clients since the establishment of our firm. We are prepared to go above and beyond to help you receive the most favorable outcome possible.