Doral Embezzlement Lawyers – Your Ally During a Difficult Time

Being accused of embezzlement can be an incredibly stressful and frightening experience. As a white collar crime, embezzlement allegations often come with high stakes – potential criminal charges, financial liability, and damage to one’s professional reputation. That’s why having an experienced Doral embezzlement defense attorney on your side is so important.

This article provides an overview of embezzlement charges in Doral, typical defenses, and how a knowledgeable lawyer can guide you through the legal process. We’ll also discuss what to look for when choosing an attorney to represent you.

An Introduction to Embezzlement Charges in Doral

Embezzlement involves fraudulently taking money or property that has been entrusted to your care. Under Florida statute 812.012, embezzlement occurs when a person misappropriates funds or property valued at $300 or more that they have custody of due to their job, role, or legal responsibility.

Common examples include:

• An employee stealing from their employer
• A financial advisor misusing client funds
• An executor stealing from an estate
• A public officer misappropriating public money

The penalties for embezzlement depend on the value of what was stolen. Misdemeanor embezzlement involves less than $750 and is punishable by up to 1 year in jail. If the amount exceeds $750, it becomes a third-degree felony with up to 5 years in prison. And if over $100,000 was stolen, it rises to a first-degree felony with up to 30 years behind bars.

Restitution is also typically required in addition to any criminal punishment.

Why You Need an Experienced Embezzlement Lawyer

Facing embezzlement accusations is scary. Your freedom, finances, and reputation are all on the line. An aggressive prosecutor will try to maximize charges against you while seeking harsh penalties.

Having an experienced white collar criminal defense attorney levels the playing field. They have the in-depth understanding of embezzlement laws and defense strategies to protect your rights. Rather than going it alone, having a lawyer in your corner who can navigate the complex legal system is critical.

An attorney from a firm like Steinger, Greene & Feiner has likely handled hundreds of theft, fraud, and financial crime cases. They know how to thoroughly analyze the prosecution’s evidence and identify any constitutional violations, procedural mistakes, or weaknesses in their argument.

Whether negotiating with investigators pre-charge or battling allegations at trial, a lawyer’s skills can make all the difference. Their intimate knowledge of Doral courts and players provides invaluable insight. And their relationship with judges and prosecutors is key for crafting settlements when appropriate.

Don’t take chances with your future. An embezzlement conviction can haunt you forever. Instead, retain skilled legal counsel to fight for the best possible outcome.

Common Embezzlement Defenses

When building a defense, an attorney will closely examine both the law and the facts of your specific case. But some common embezzlement defenses include:

Lack of Criminal Intent

Embezzlement requires prosecutors to prove you knowingly and intentionally meant to defraud or steal. But sometimes mishandling of funds happens due to innocent mistakes or negligence rather than purposeful deceit. Other times, employees borrow money with every intent to pay it back. An attorney can argue you never meant to unlawfully take anything.

Authorization

If an employer or principal authorizes transactions related to disputed funds, it undercuts claims that money was stolen without permission. Demonstrating proper authorization can defeat embezzlement allegations.

Statute of Limitations

For a misdemeanor, prosecutors have only 2 years to charge you after an alleged offense. And felonies carry a 4 year statute. If too much time has passed, an experienced lawyer may get charges dismissed.

Accounting Errors

Sloppy record keeping or accounting mistakes could create the illusion of missing funds even if nothing illicit occurred. Your attorney can highlight these kinds of honest errors.

Duress

If you were coerced or under extreme pressure from a boss or abusive spouse when funds went missing, it may provide grounds for a defense.

There are numerous other ways an experienced attorney builds a strong defense as well. The key is having a knowledgeable and strategic legal guide at your side.

Choosing the Right Doral Embezzlement Attorney

Facing criminal accusations is frightening enough without worrying whether your lawyer is up to the task. Be sure to vet attorneys thoroughly and retain someone with proven experience, skill, and commitment to clients. Look for things like:

• Decades handling complex financial crime cases: You want someone intimately familiar with embezzlement laws and defense strategies. Dig into their background representing clients in theft, fraud, public corruption, tax evasion, and similar charges.
• Past case success: Ask about their track record getting charges reduced or dismissed pre-trial. Do they have experience negotiating favorable plea bargains? Check if they’ve won trial verdicts for innocent clients facing financial felony charges.
• Respect from prosecutors and judges: The best lawyers develop strong working relationships with court players over years of interactions. Judges familiar with and confident in an attorney’s competence is invaluable. And knowing how to craft settlements prosecutors find reasonable while protecting client rights is key.
• Commitment to clients: You need an attorney who makes you feel supported, explains things in understandable terms, and truly has your back. Having confidence they’ll fight tirelessly for you provides peace of mind.

Take time researching multiple attorneys’ qualifications before deciding who to entrust with your case. The stakes are high, so make sure you choose wisely.

Let a Doral Embezzlement Lawyer Fight For You

Dealing with embezzlement accusations is tremendously unsettling. The prospect of criminal penalties along with professional and financial ruin is terrifying. That’s why having an ally with legal skills and knowledge in your corner is so critical.

Don’t go through this alone. Schedule a consultation with an experienced Doral embezzlement defense attorney from a reputable firm. Let them stand by your side, investigate the allegations, and build a strong case on your behalf. An attorney who knows the local courts and has a proven track record can make all the difference.

While the charges may seem overwhelming now, an attorney can help put together a defense targeting holes in the prosecution’s argument or procedural mistakes in their case. There are often good defenses that can lead to reduced or dismissed charges if crafted properly.

So don’t lose hope. Call a knowledgeable lawyer and get the strong legal defense you deserve. With an experienced attorney guiding you, justice can still prevail even when facing disturbing embezzlement allegations. You and your lawyer together can overcome this.