Accused of embezzling money from your employer?

Taking something that doesn’t belong to you is wrong. This is something most people are taught from a young age. Still, many people get involved in or find themselves accused of embezzling and then have to pay the consequences for it.

Embezzlement is a serious crime in Ohio. It tends to affect numerous individuals, not just your employer. Because this is the case, prosecuting attorneys will work diligently to see you pay fully for your alleged crime. To do this, it will be their job to prove that very specific elements exist in your case.

Elements required

There is a total of four elements that prosecuting attorneys must prove exist in your case in order for them to achieve a conviction. These elements are:

• Proof of a fiduciary relationship
• Proof of property acquired through the relationship
• Proof of unauthorized property transfer
• Proof of assets intentionally taken

Getting all of these elements to line up is not necessarily an easy task.

Examples of embezzlement

When you hear the word embezzlement, you may think of the big schemes reported in the news where victims are out large sums of money. People like Bernie Madoff often come to mind. But not all embezzlement cases ever get that big. They can be small, such as a cashier taking small amounts from his or her register during every shift over a long period of time.

At the end of the day, there are a lot of ways that you could take money or other assets from your employer or clients. Other examples of embezzlement schemes include:

• Falsifying records
• Paying fabricated employees
• Removing and keeping company equipment
• Pocketing a large lump sum

The list is really endless, so it is impossible to list all types of embezzlement schemes here. 

Defend yourself

If you stand accused of embezzling from your employer or clients, if convicted, you could face years behind bars and have to pay fines and restitution. All of these things will impact your life greatly now and in the future.

Thankfully, you have the right to defend yourself. With the assistance of legal counsel, you can pursue a defense option that best suits your case and will work to protect your interests. While there is nothing easy about fighting any charges for embezzling, there is always something good to be said about having help on your side when you need it.