To the south of Minneapolis, in Jackson, Minnesota, a 66-year-old woman recently pled guilty to embezzlement. Whether it was because she pled guilty, the nature of her crime or her age, the judge was extremely lenient and only sentenced her to one year in jail. Embezzlement is a serious crime and often carries a considerable prison term, making it extremely important to work closely with an experienced white-collar criminal defense attorney.
The woman was a former bank officer and admitted to stealing anywhere from $30,000 to $120,000 from bank customers. It seems the embezzlement took place over a six-year period, between January 2005 and August 2011. It is unclear what tipped off investigators or what evidence they found of the woman’s embezzlement before she was ultimately arrested and charged.
Though this woman has received a remarkably short sentence, her case still illustrates the importance of an experienced embezzlement attorney. Embezzlement is often a felony and quickly stirs up intense emotions amongst the community. Because the crime requires not only theft but also a breach of trust, many people are quick to judge someone accused of embezzlement. Risking your freedom and reputation by trying to deal with both the criminal and social aspects of defending a white-collar crime charge alone could turn disastrous. Missing even the smallest section of law could lead to a conviction and years in prison.
For this woman, it seems that she will also be forced to pay over $100,000 in restitution to her apparent victims.
Source: CBS Minnesota, “Former Bank Officer Sentenced To 1 Year For Embezzlement,” Aug, 21, 2012
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