How to Defend Against Embezzlement Charges

Embezzlement involves the use of corporate and public funds or property for individual needs. Clerks, buyers and other professionals given access to the cash box are placed under a high level of scrutiny when accounting figures do not align. You need to understand how to defend against embezzlement charges to avoid fines and jail time.

Things You'll Need

• Deposit records and bank statements
• Character witnesses
• Copies of phone records
• Copies of job-related awards

Instructions

1. Highlight the number of people within your company who possess similar responsibilities to defend against embezzlement charges. You should outline job titles instead of individuals within your department and allow your attorney to call on your colleagues.

2. Point out your relatively low position within the company as you defend against charges of embezzlement. This defense is effective in national and international companies with multiple offices accessing the same resources.

3. Access deposit records and bank statements applicable to your job as a means of staving off a conviction for embezzlement. These records can be placed side-by-side with your personal accounts to show no evidence of wrongdoing.

4. Bring your attorney to every meeting with your employer and federal agents following accusations of embezzlement. Your attorney can help you prevent self-incrimination and inconsistencies that can bring a swift conviction.

5. Utilize character witnesses familiar with your background and daily work throughout your defense. These witnesses should be taken from the workplace to maintain context for your case of honest performance on the job.

6. Speak with your attorney to develop sound explanations for every inconsistency in your defense. You should be able to explain gaps in your account and miscalculations in your office's budget without hesitation.

7. Examine phone records from your office and home to determine potential points made against you by the prosecution. You should know the purpose of every phone call made during the alleged period of embezzlement to help your defense.

8. Submit awards for merit and service from your employer as a demonstration of your level of trustworthiness. These materials, which will provide vital background material for jurors, should be supplementary to company documents.

9. Think about a counter-suit against your company if an embezzlement case is overturned. The damage to your reputation caused by white-collar allegations may harm your access to future earnings in your profession. You should broach this subject with your attorney as your case progresses so you can file papers quickly after a final verdict.

Tips & Warnings

• Work with your attorney to deal with repeated and detailed questions about alleged embezzlement. Prosecutors will attempt to exploit inconsistencies in your story to confirm embezzlement charges. Your attorney should rephrase similar questions in different ways to help you develop a consistent narrative of the period in question.