If you have been accused of embezzlement in Germantown, Maryland, you need to take the situation seriously and start thinking about your defense. Depending on the details of the case against you, the embezzlement charges could be filed as misdemeanors, felonies, or even federal violations. A conviction for any such charges could be destructive to your future freedom, reputation, and finances.
Come to Portner & Shure to talk to a Germantown embezzlement defense lawyer that you can trust to stand up for your rights against any prosecution. We have been a recognized name in Maryland criminal defense for more than 30 years, earning us countless 5-star reviews on Google and Facebook. With so much hanging in the balance when you are accused of embezzlement, you’ll want to rely on a law firm as trusted as ours.
We can help you with all parts of your embezzlement defense case, such as:
- Challenging criminal investigations that target you, which could possibly stop any embezzlement charges from ever being officially filed.
- Building a strong defense in your name by using various pieces of evidence, witness testimonials, and more.
- Attempting to negotiate a plea deal if it could lead to the best possible outcome.
- Representing you in court before a judge and jury to fight the prosecution and pursue a not-guilty verdict.
We offer our legal counsel in English, Spanish, Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese languages. Call (410) 995-1515 to schedule a case evaluation with our team.
Fiduciary Duties & Embezzlement Accusations
Embezzlement is a theft crime that specifically involves a violation of a fiduciary duty. In legal terms, a fiduciary duty is one party’s obligation to act in the best interests of another party based on a relationship established through an official, written, or oral contract. Specifically, embezzlement occurs when someone violates a fiduciary duty by mismanaging or misappropriating funds or assets for personal gain or another criminal purpose.
Embezzlement can occur in many types of fiduciary duties, such as those involving:
- Estate executors and the assets that they manage or oversee.
- Investment bankers and the investment accounts they manage for their clients.
- People who are granted power of attorney and the parties who granted them that power.
- Trustees and the company assets they are tasked to manage on behalf of the company or corporation.
- Workers or employees and the company finances they are tasked to handle (e.g. cashiers who accept currency from customers on behalf of their employers).
Embezzlement Conviction Penalties in Maryland
The criminal penalties for an embezzlement charge in Maryland can vary depending on the type and level of charge that is filed against you. Typically, the severity of the sentencing requirements will escalate from “least” for a misdemeanor charge to “worst” for a federal crime, but this is not always the case. No matter what embezzlement charge you are facing, you should take it seriously and let our legal team fight to defend you.
A conviction for embezzlement in Maryland could result in these penalties:
- Between 1 and 5 years of imprisonment;
- Thousands of dollars in fines and fees; and/or,
- Repayment of embezzled funds to the victim.
Other than criminal penalties, an embezzlement conviction could disrupt your day-to-day life and cause frustrating complications that you might not have first expected. For example, you could be labeled as “unemployable” by any job that involves handling money or assets. Also, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) might require you to report the embezzled funds as taxable income, which could create a host of tax implications and issues.
Building a Defense Against Embezzlement Charges
Embezzlement charges are worth fighting. No matter what sort of case is being used by the prosecution, a defense strategy can be carefully made to stand against it. Our Germantown embezzlement attorneys of Portner & Shure can use our decades of collective criminal defense experience to look for the most suitable defense to the charges. Our goal is to get the best possible outcome based on the unique circumstances of your case.
Defense arguments that might work for your case include:
- Prosecution does not have enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Prosecution is based on evidence that was unlawfully obtained.
- You had no intent to embezzle the funds or assets in question.
- You poorly maintained assets or finances but not intentionally or for criminal reasons.
Call to Stand Up for Your Rights with Our Help
Get your embezzlement defense case moving forward today. Start by teaming up with Portner & Shure and telling our Germantown embezzlement defense attorneys about the accusations or charges you are facing. Once we are on your side, we can jump into action to start defending your rights and reputation from the overly harsh weight of the law.
Call (410) 995-1515 or use an online contact form now to learn more about our embezzlement defense attorneys serving Maryland.
