Embezzlement is a serious white-collar crime. Embezzlement is the misappropriation of items with which a person has been entrusted. For example, embezzlement often occurs in the work setting where an accountant or other employee may "embezzle" funds from his or her company by misappropriating funds from cash accounts (i.e. petty cash) or bank accounts and then attempt to cover his or her tracks.
In general, to establish a case for embezzlement, the prosecution must establish four elements, each beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) a fiduciary relationship between the defendant and the party who lost the property; (2) the property came into the defendant's possession through that relationship; (3) the defendant fraudulently assumed ownership of the property; and (4) the defendant intentionally misappropriated the property.
Embezzlement has steep penalties. While specific penalties will depend on the value of the misappropriated property, penalties can include prison time, fines, probation, and other punishments. In addition, a person can face serious reputation damage, thus jeopardizing his or her personal and professional future.
Given the seriousness of this crime, your attorney must build a strong defense as early as possible. The attorneys at Kope and Associates understand the many laws that apply to these cases, and will zealously use these laws to defend you. Through vehement investigation and lawyering, the experienced attorneys at Kope and Associates will try to convince the people to drop and dismiss embezzlement charges at their inception. When these charges do go forward, the criminal defense attorneys at Kope and Associates will aggressively defend you against them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office, as well as state and local law enforcement agencies, have assembled teams of gang members and prosecutors who handle these cases. To fight these charges, you need defense attorneys who have handled these cases, understand the nature of the charges and know how to fight them.
If you or someone you love has been charged with embezzlement in Harrisburg, York, or surrounding areas of Pennsylvania, please contact Kope and Associates as soon as possible for a free consultation. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.