Business owners often have to entrust others with the money and assets of the business. This type of trust is typically given to managers and executives, but it can also extend to cashiers and others. Embezzlement occurs when one of those individuals entrusted with money or assets uses those for their benefit instead of for the benefit of the company.
One of the most important components of embezzlement is that there must be intent. In a criminal case, the prosecutor will have to show that the defendant took or used the funds for their own gain. Because of this, honest mistakes or poor accounting methods aren’t enough for a conviction since they don’t show that the person had an intention to deprive the company of the money or assets they took.
What should defendants know in these cases?
Anyone facing an embezzlement charge should know that these cases usually have considerable evidence. There are usually detailed records and other documentation that show what happened, but they may not provide the full story. Because of this, it’s critical that anyone who’s facing these charges learns about the options they have for building a defense.
The penalties of embezzlement can be significant. The exact type of charge and the possible penalties depend on the amount of money or assets that were embezzled. The defense strategy a defendant uses must be based on the circumstances of the case and the goal for their defense. Working with someone who’s familiar with embezzlement charges may be beneficial for these individuals.
