Baltimore Federal Embezzlement Lawyer
When you are charged with embezzlement, a prosecutor must prove you acted intentionally to take money or items. The U.S. attorney prosecuting you for this federal offense has the burden of showing your guilt and you should be found not guilty if reasonable doubt can be introduced regarding whether you broke the law. Your Baltimore City federal embezzlement lawyer may be able to help you introduce doubt or defend yourself by claiming:
- Lack of intent.
- Improperly obtained evidence.
- Insufficient evidence of embezzlement.
- Entrapment
- Coercion or threats against you caused your actions
Embezzlement is a type of property theft. You may be accused of embezzlement if you have access to someone else’s money and you are believed to have taken or misused that money for personal gain. Many people are accused of embezzlement because of a misunderstanding, while others may face harsh penalties for a single mistake. You have legal rights if you have been accused of embezzlement, and a Baltimore City federal embezzlement lawyer can help you to defend yourself or explore options for responding to your charges.
Federal Embezzlement Laws
18 U.S. Code Chapter 31 defines a number of offenses related to embezzlement and theft. Embezzlement is different from regular theft offenses because it usually involves an accusation that someone has failed to fulfill a duty or has abused a professional position.
The type of offense you will be charged with varies depending upon the specific actions you have been accused of. For example:
- Embezzling anything of value belonging to the U.S. government, including property, money, or records, can result in a fine of up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in jail if the items taken were valued at more than $1,000. If the items taken were under $1,000, penalties can include up to a year of incarceration and a fine of up to $100,000 under S. Code Section 641.
- The embezzlement of public money by federal officers or agents can result in up to 10 years incarceration and fines if the public money taken is valued at $1,000 or more. If the money taken is valued under $1,000, the penalties may include up to a year in jail as well as fines under S. Code Section 643. The fines are equal to the greater of the money embezzled or either $250,000 or $100,000 depending upon whether more or less than $1,000 was taken.
Other embezzlement offenses include court officers taking money; depositories who fail to safeguard deposits; theft by bank examiners; taking money from lending or credit institutions; theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans; and bribery concerning programs receiving federal money. These charges may warrant contact with a Baltimore City federal embezzlement lawyer as each can can severe consequences for those convicted.
How a Baltimore City Federal Embezzlement Lawyer Can Help
A Baltimore City federal embezzlement lawyer can help you try and minimize the harm of these charges using defenses such as negotiating a plea bargain if you are accused. A plea bargain may allow you to admit your guilt in exchange for receiving a reduced sentence or being charged with a less serious crime.
To learn more about these or other options for responding to embezzlement charges, contact a Baltimore City federal embezzlement attorney for help today.