Under Texas laws, embezzling involves committing theft for your financial gain. Such theft often involves fraud, which means deliberately deceiving an entity or a person for monetary or personal gain. This can include gaining value via deceitful or misleading conduct, such as making false statements or misrepresentations.
For example, if an employee steals money from a cash register, or they alter the company’s financial records to conceal their theft from the business, it’s considered embezzlement. Other forms of embezzlement include Medicare fraud, mortgage fraud, tax fraud, and elder abuse ( when an older adult’s caretaker or relative steals money from them).
Texas embezzlement laws can be found in the Texas Penal Code, Title 7, Chapter 31, under which embezzlement is grouped within the broader category of “theft”.
Misdemeanor Embezzlement
If you’re accused of embezzling $1,500 or less in Texas, you’ll be charged with a Class C Misdemeanor.
The punishment for a Class C misdemeanor embezzlement charge looks like this:
- If the stolen amount is less than $50, the punishment is a fine of not more than $500.
- Stolen amounts between $50 and $500 are charged as a Class B misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $2,000, a jail sentence of not more than 180 days, or both.
- If the stolen amount is $500 to $1,500, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor. This will be punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and a jail sentence of up to one year.
Felony Embezzlement
Embezzlement is a federal charge, as found in 18 U.S. Code, Chapter 31. In Texas, the penalties for a felony embezzlement charge can vary depending on your circumstances and the nature of the crime, such as the stolen amount.
- If you’re accused of theft of over $200,000, it can warrant a first-degree felony embezzlement charge.
- You’ll probably get a second-degree felony embezzlement charge if you’re suspected of embezzlement between $100,000 and $200,000.
- For $20,000 to $100,000, you can expect a third-degree felony embezzlement charge.
The more money you’re accused of stealing in Texas, the more severe your fine and embezzlement sentence.
In Texas, felony embezzlement is a serious crime that carries severe punishment. If you’ve been charged with embezzlement, know that you stil have rights. You need an experienced and relentless criminal defense attorney. In the Clear Lake and Friendswood area, call J.L Carpenter to start protecting your rights today. As a former prosecutor, Attorney J.L. Carpenter works with financial consultants and computer experts to help defend your rights with the goal of getting you a favorable outcome.