What Are the Penalties for Embezzlement in Connecticut?

 Posted on September 15, 2021 in Theft and Property Crimes

There are multiple different types of offenses that fall under the category of property crimes. While some of these crimes involve blatant theft, such as shoplifting or robbery, others are more subtle, and they may be related to a person’s activities as an employee or their handling of someone else’s money or property. Embezzlement is one such offense, and those who have been accused of this crime will need to understand the nature of the charges they may face and their options for defense.

What Is Embezzlement?

A person may be accused of committing embezzlement if they wrongfully take or appropriate someone else’s property that is in their possession or care. Embezzlement is generally related to a person’s activities when handling money or property for an employer, although it may also involve the mismanagement of property or assets that a person holds on behalf of a family member, friend, or business associate.

Some examples of embezzlement include:

• Stealing money or property from an employer - An employee may take money from a cash register or items sold at a store, or they may take a company’s supplies or equipment for personal use after claiming that these items were lost or damaged.

• Claiming false expenses or misusing a company’s assets - A person may use a company credit card or expense account for personal purposes, ask for reimbursement for expenses that were unrelated to business activities, or use a company’s resources for their own personal gain.

• Misappropriating funds - A person may use a variety of methods to siphon money from a company, such as by overbilling customers and keeping the surplus amounts, forging company checks, or making payments from the company to a false vendor or nonexistent employee.

In Connecticut, a person who is accused of embezzlement may be charged with larceny. The specific charges will depend on the amount that was allegedly stolen. Connecticut law defines six degrees of larceny:

• First-degree larceny involving embezzlement of more than $20,000 - A Class B felony, which carries a jail sentence of one to 20 years.

• Second-degree larceny involving embezzlement of $10,000 to $20,000 - A Class C felony, which carries a jail sentence of one to 10 years.

• Third-degree larceny involving embezzlement of $2,000 to $10,000 - A Class D felony, which carries a jail sentence of one to five years.

• Fourth-degree larceny involving embezzlement of $1,000 to $2,000 - A Class A misdemeanor, which carries a jail sentence of up to one year.

• Fifth-degree larceny involving embezzlement of $500 to $1,000 - A Class B misdemeanor, which carries a jail sentence of up to six months.

• Sixth-degree larceny involving embezzlement of $500 or less - A Class C misdemeanor, which carries a jail sentence of up to three months.

Contact Our Stamford Embezzlement Lawyer

If you have been accused of embezzlement or another form of larceny, The Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner can provide you with a strong defense. We will help you determine how to respond to these accusations and ensure that you take the correct steps during your criminal case. Contact our Fairfield County larceny defense attorney at 203-348-5846 to arrange a complimentary consultation.

Sources:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm

https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/09/embezzlement-examples.html