Minnesota Employee Theft Defense Lawyer
According to the Department of Justice, employee theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States with nearly one third of all employees committing some degree of employee theft during their time of employment. The US Chamber of Commerce reports that employee theft cost businesses over $50 billion annually and that 33% of all new businesses fail due to employee theft. What this means is that retailers and corporations are cracking down on theft crimes by installing more security measures than ever before. It also means that employee theft-related crimes are now considered more serious than ever and come with severe legal consequences if convicted.
Common Employee Theft Crimes
Employee theft refers to any theft that occurs in the workplace. This can include white collar crimes as well as petty thefts. Below are some of the common employee theft-related charges:
- Corporate crimes, including embezzlement, extortion, insider trading, racketeering, money laundering, bribery and blackmail
- Stealing money directly from the cash register
- Stealing good from the store or the back of the store
- Switching price tags on items
- Forging receipts in order to pocket the money
- Shipping and billing scams
- Pocketing “lost and found” items
- Faking on-the-job injuries to gain workers compensation
- Voiding receipts to pocket the money
- Deliberately not charging for items and pocketing the money
- Taking office equipment
- Stealing gift cards
Employee Theft Penalties
Employee theft usually involves a very complicated legal hearing. There are a number of factors that will determine your criminal charge including the amount of good stolen, the damage to the victim, the media attention and your past criminal behavior. If some instances you may be facing a misdemeanor charge while in other instances you may need to defend against a felony charge. Furthermore, larger employee theft crimes, often referred to as white collar crimes, may span outside the state boundaries and thus you could be facing the federal court system.
If you are convicted of employee theft, you may be facing prison time, hefty fines, restitution to the victim, counseling and community service. You may also face emotional embarrassment and shame, especially if your employee theft case makes headlines. If you are convicted in the federal court system, you could also lose your rights to own firearms and to travel overseas.
Take Action Now!
If you have been wrongly accused of employee theft, then you need to seek qualified assistance in your legal case. Employee theft can not only come with severe penalties but can also negatively impact your ability to find employment after serving your sentence. After all, almost all employers will include a criminal record check as part of their employment process. There are a number of defense strategies that can be used to avoid a criminal conviction. The Law Offices of William K. Bulmer II can provide you with a qualified, passionate and knowledgeable Minnesota criminal defense attorney who will act as your voice in the criminal justice system. Make sure your rights are protected – contact our Law Offices today for a free, no obligation consultation at 612-384-7003.
