San Pedro Embezzlement Defense Lawyer
Are you under investigation or facing charges for embezzlement? Maybe the police have already contacted you, or perhaps your employer has made allegations that could destroy everything you’ve worked for.
Embezzlement charges in California carry serious consequences, including potential prison time, massive fines, and permanent damage to your reputation. But you’re here because you’re not ready to give up on your future.
Here’s what you need to know right now: An accusation is not a conviction. Your life isn’t over. Your future isn’t decided. What happens next depends on the choices you make now, starting with who you trust to defend you.
Embezzlement cases require attorneys who understand complex financial records, accounting principles, and corporate investigation procedures. For nearly three decades, The Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates has defended San Pedro professionals against sophisticated white-collar charges. We work with forensic accountants, challenge financial analysis methods, and have the expertise to expose flaws in prosecution theories that rely on incomplete or misinterpreted financial data. Learn more about our firm.
Our main office is conveniently located at 100 Oceangate #525, Long Beach, CA, 90802 in the financial district near major banks and the Port of Long Beach commercial complex. San Pedro business professionals can reach our office in just 10 minutes via I-710. These are serious charges, so don’t wait! Call 562-216-2944 or complete our confidential contact form immediately.
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“I am beyond grateful for having Robin as my attorney during a great time of need. Robin was accessible, available and went beyond my expectations when it came to representing my best interest in court. He was very knowledgeable about my situation and had no problem explaining the legal process along the way. I couldn’t recommend him and his office more. Thanks!”
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What is Embezzlement in California
California Penal Code 503 treats embezzlement as theft, and depending on the amount involved, you could be facing misdemeanor or felony charges.
The crime is commonly called “employee theft” because it frequently occurs in workplace settings where employees have been given access to company property or funds as part of their job duties.
Embezzlement requires several specific elements that prosecutors must prove:
- Trust: The property must have been lawfully entrusted to you. This often happens in employment situations where employees have access to company funds, but it can also occur in other relationships of trust, like caretakers, financial advisors, or anyone given lawful possession of another’s property.
- Fraudulent Appropriation: A person acts fraudulently when he or she takes undue advantage of another person or causes a loss to that person by breaching a duty, trust, or confidence. Simply having access to property isn’t enough. There must be an intent to permanently deprive the owner of it.
- No Initial Theft: Unlike robbery or burglary, embezzlement doesn’t involve taking property unlawfully from the start. The person initially had legitimate access to the property through their position or relationship.
Penalties in California
The penalties for embezzlement depend on the value of the property involved:
Petty Theft Embezzlement (property valued at $950 or less):
- Always a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail
- Up to $1,000 in fines and misdemeanor summary probation
Grand Theft Embezzlement (property valued over $950):
- Can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on factors like the defendant’s criminal record, the amount embezzled, and any aggravating factors
- Misdemeanor: Up to a year in county jail and a maximum fine of $1,000
- Felony: 16 months, two or three years in county jail, and a maximum fine of $10,000
Common Examples of Embezzlement
Embezzlement charges often arise in situations like:
- Employees skimming cash from registers
- Bookkeepers writing unauthorized checks to themselves
- Financial advisors using client funds for personal expenses
- Caregivers taking money from elderly clients
- Corporate executives misusing company funds
Defending You From the Start Against Embezzlement Charges
Every embezzlement case is unique. Maybe you’re dealing with disputed accounting practices, unclear authorization policies, or a situation where money was borrowed with the full intent to repay. Perhaps you’re facing charges because someone else made financial decisions you had no control over, or because a business dispute has been criminalized unfairly.
Embezzlement cases are often built on incomplete evidence, misunderstandings about financial transactions, or even false accusations from disgruntled employers or coworkers. The prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you intentionally took property that wasn’t yours, with the specific intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. That’s a high bar to meet, and our experienced San Pedro embezzlement defense attorneys know exactly where these cases fall apart.
Frequently Asked Questions: Embezzlement Charges
1. What should I do if I’m accused of embezzlement?
Don’t discuss the case with anyone without an attorney present. This includes your employer, the police, and investigators. Anything you say can be used against you, even if you’re trying to explain or clear things up. Contact a San Pedro embezzlement defense attorney immediately, even if you haven’t been formally charged yet.
2. Will I automatically go to jail if convicted?
Not necessarily. Jail time depends on several factors, including the amount of money involved, your criminal history, and whether you’re charged with a misdemeanor or felony.
3. Can I be charged with embezzlement if I intended to pay the money back?
Yes, unfortunately, you can. California law focuses on your intent at the time you took the property, not whether you planned to return it later. However, evidence that you intended to repay can be valuable in negotiations with prosecutors or as mitigation during sentencing. Your attorney can use this intent to argue for reduced charges or alternative sentencing options.
4. What if my employer gave me unclear instructions about how to handle money?
This is actually a strong defense strategy. Embezzlement requires fraudulent intent, meaning you knew you weren’t supposed to use the money that way. If your employer’s policies were unclear, if you had previous authorization for similar transactions, or if there was confusion about your authority to make financial decisions, this can create reasonable doubt about whether you acted with criminal intent.
5. How long do embezzlement cases typically take to resolve?
Most embezzlement cases take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to fully resolve, depending on the complexity of the financial evidence and whether the case goes to trial. Simpler cases with clear documentation might resolve faster through plea negotiations, while cases involving complex business transactions or large amounts of money often take longer. Your San Pedro embezzlement defense attorney can give you a better timeline once they review the specific details of your case.
Contact Our San Pedro Embezzlement Defense Lawyers
If you’re facing embezzlement charges in San Pedro, every day you wait is a day the prosecution gets stronger while your options get fewer. The decisions you make right now will determine whether you’re looking at jail time, hefty fines, and a permanent criminal record, or whether you can protect your future and move forward with your life.
Don’t let fear or confusion paralyze you into inaction. Embezzlement cases are defensible, but only with the right legal strategy from the very beginning.
Contact our San Pedro embezzlement defense team today for a confidential consultation where we’ll review your case, explain your real options, and start building the aggressive defense you need to fight these charges and reclaim your future.
Call The Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates at 562-216-2944 or fill out a contact form right now for a free consultation.
