New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyers for Employee Theft Accusations and Arrests
As an employee, facing allegations of theft can not only lead to termination of your employment, but it can also lead to criminal charges. The New Jersey Statutes establish several different types of theft crimes, and these crimes can either be classified as disorderly persons offenses or indictable offenses depending on the value of the property stolen and the other circumstances involved. If you have been accused of stealing from your employer, you need experienced legal representation via a New Jersey white collar criminal defense lawyer. You could be facing fines and jail time in addition to an obligation to return the property that you stole. If you are convicted, your employment prospects could be significantly impacted as well, and you could face various practical consequences in virtually all aspects of your daily life.
Have You Been Accused of Stealing or Embezzling from Your Employer?
“Theft” is a general term that encompasses a variety of different criminal offenses. In the employment context, acts ranging from physically stealing company property to embezzling corporate funds can be prosecuted as theft crimes under New Jersey law. As defined by the New Jersey Statutes, specific theft crimes for which employees can be prosecuted include:
- Theft by unlawful taking or disposition – “A person is guilty of theft if he unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over, movable property of another with purpose to deprive him thereof . . . [or] unlawfully transfers any interest in immovable property of another with purpose to benefit himself or another not entitled thereto.”
- Theft by deception – “A person is guilty of theft if he purposely obtains property of another by deception. A person deceives if he purposely: a. Creates or reinforces a false impression . . . b. Prevents another from acquiring information which would affect his judgment of a transaction; or c. Fails to correct a false impression . . . .”
- Theft by extortion – “A person is guilty of theft by extortion if he purposely and unlawfully obtains property of another by extortion. A person extorts if he purposely threatens to: a. Inflict bodily injury on or physically confine or restrain anyone or commit any other criminal offense; b. Accuse anyone of an offense or cause charges of an offense to be instituted against any person; [or] c. Expose or publicize any secret or any asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to impair his credit or business repute . . . .”
Depending on the circumstances involved, allegations of employee theft can lead to criminal charges for credit card fraud, check fraud, embezzlement, and various other fraud crimes as well. Additionally, if the alleged theft involved the use of force (or the threatened use of force) or unlawful entry into a company facility, it may be prosecuted as robbery or burglary. These are serious crimes that carry serious penalties, and you will need a highly-experienced employee theft attorney to avoid life-altering consequences.
Speak with a New Jersey Embezzlement Lawyer in Confidence
Are you being accused of stealing from your employer in New Jersey? If so, you need to speak with a white collar criminal defense lawyer immediately. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with an attorney at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A., call 877-435-6371 or tell us how we can reach you online now.
