Atlanta Federal Embezzlement Attorney

Atlanta Federal Embezzlement Lawyer

Embezzlement is a complicated white-collar theft crime that can have serious implications on an individual’s life. If you are being charged with embezzlement theft crimes, an Atlanta embezzlement attorney from The Law Office of Lawrence J. Zimmerman can provide aggressive and detailed representation to help you work toward an optimal case outcome.

When facing white-collar crimes, such as embezzlement, in Atlanta, it’s critical to have a comprehensive criminal defense team behind you. Whether you are involved in business litigation or business disputes, the experienced criminal lawyer at The Law Office of Lawrence J. Zimmerman can work with you to gather evidence, including expert testimony, and form an effective defense strategy.

What Is Atlanta Embezzlement?

Embezzlement is a white-collar theft crime. In Atlanta, this can happen when an individual has been given authority to manage or monitor certain funds or assets for another person or organization. In such a case, the individual takes advantage of the assets that aren’t theirs by stealing or using them for their own benefit.

Atlanta corporations often face cases of embezzlement, in which an employee of the company has certain access to corporate assets but mishandles them for their own gain. If convicted, Atlanta embezzlement crimes can have serious long-term penalties and collateral consequences, such as a smeared reputation, time in jail, and exorbitant fees.

Proving Embezzlement Crimes in Atlanta

If you have been arrested on embezzlement crime charges, the prosecution must prove certain elements of the crime to finally convict you of it. Such elements include: 

• The owner of the funds or assets had a fiduciary relationship with the accused individual. This means that the accused was in a particular position of trust and privilege with respect to the owner, such as being their banker, guardian, accountant, or employee.
• The accused party leveraged the fiduciary relationship to acquire access to the owner’s funds or assets.
• After gaining access, the accused party then moved the owner’s funds to another individual, another organization, or their own accounts.
• The party who has been accused carried out the crimes deliberately. Instances of accidental mismanagement of funds or coercion to carry out certain actions would not equate to an embezzlement crime.

An Atlanta embezzlement case will involve different aspects, depending on the fiduciary relationship involved as well as the setting and caliber of the crime. Different strategies for embezzlement can be involved, such as computer schemes, check kiting, and lapping.

What Are the Penalties for Embezzlement in Georgia?

It’s important to know that the penalties for an embezzlement crime in Georgia are not organized in a standard scheme. This means that the penalties will depend on the criminal history of the accused as well as the amount of assets or funds that were handled in an illegal manner.

Typically, if the funds that were handled in an illegal manner were worth less than $500.00, then the embezzlement charges would be a misdemeanor. If an individual is convicted of misdemeanor embezzlement charges, then they can expect to face: 

• Serving up to a maximum of one year in jail
• Paying up to $1,000 dollars in fines

Embezzlement charges for mishandling assets or funds worth more than $500 are much more serious and can amount to felony charges. If convicted of such a crime, individuals could face:

• Serving a duration of 1 to 10 years in prison
• Paying up to $1,000 dollars in fines

In addition to court-ordered penalties, an individual convicted of felony embezzlement charges will have the crimes on their criminal record. This will impact their ability to secure employment in the future as well as educational and housing opportunities. Embezzlement crimes can destroy the reputation of the accused, making it difficult to establish a sense of trust with business partners.

FAQs About Atlanta, GA Federal Embezzlement Laws

How Can I Defend Myself Against Atlanta Embezzlement Charges?

There are multiple defense strategies that can be used to build a counterargument to Atlanta embezzlement charges. Some strategies include:

• Proving that you acquired the assets legally from the original owner
• Showing that you did not purposefully transfer or move assets into another individual’s possession
• Demonstrating that you acted legally according to some form of occupational or financial agreement

An experienced defense lawyer can help you build your defense based on the details of your case.

Is Atlanta Embezzlement a Felony Crime?

Atlanta embezzlement can be classified as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the details of your case, such as criminal history and the amount of funds that were mishandled. Typically, cases that involve the mishandling of funds under a value of $500.00 are classified as a misdemeanor. Whether you are facing felony or misdemeanor charges, it’s important to consult an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can take your charges seriously and mount a strong defense.

What Is the Georgia Statute of Limitations for an Embezzlement Crime?

In the state of Georgia, the statute of limitations for an embezzlement crime can vary, depending on the case details. However, it is typically a period of 2 years from the time that the crime was committed or the owner realized that a crime had been committed. Nonetheless, in some cases, it can be 4 years. If you are unsure of what the statute of limitations for your charges might be, it’s important to consult with an experienced Atlanta embezzlement lawyer.

Can I Face Time in Jail for Atlanta Embezzlement?

If you are convicted on Atlanta embezzlement charges, you can either face jail time or prison time of varying durations, depending on the severity of your charges. A misdemeanor crime would amount to a maximum of one year in jail, while a felony can lead to up to 10 years in prison. If you are unsure about the implications of the penalties related to your criminal charges, it’s important to contact a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer.

Take Up a Strong Defense Against Your Atlanta Embezzlement Charges

If you have been charged with embezzlement, it’s important to work with an Atlanta criminal defense attorney who has taken on cases similar to yours and achieved successful outcomes. At The Law Office of Lawrence J. Zimmerman, our passionate criminal defense team understands the seriousness of embezzlement charges, and we can leverage all our resources to create a defense strategy that is right for you. Contact our team today to get started.