The financial crime that seems to get all the press these days is identity theft, in which the perpetrator steals from the victim by impersonating him or her, but it is certainly not the only illegal way to misappropriate money. Embezzlement, in which a person who is given access to money in an official context diverts it for his or her own personal gain, is alive and well in Texas. A classic case of embezzlement would be one in which a high-ranking employee uses a company owner’s signature stamp to “sign” checks made payable to the embezzler’s shell company. There are many variations, though. Here are some recent cases of embezzlement in Texas.
Luna Rodriguez Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement from First National Bank
Luna Rodriguez of Pharr, Texas pleaded guilty to charges of embezzlement from First National Bank, where she worked until 2014. Between 2006 and 2014, she made more than a million dollars in unauthorized withdrawals from customers’ bank accounts. Her victims were people who were unlikely to notice the unauthorized withdrawals, such as elderly customers and customers living outside the United States. If convicted, she could be sentenced to as many as 30 years in prison.
Lisa McMaster Accused of Embezzling from Denton Retirement Home
Lisa McMaster has been charged with embezzling $300,000 from Good Samaritan Society, a Texas retirement home where she worked as an office manager before she moved to Colorado. Between 2013 and 2017, McMaster used retirement home residents’ checks and credit cards to make purchases for herself. If convicted, she could face life in prison.
Matt Smith Faces Prison Time for Embezzling from Transport Workers Union
Matt Smith was the secretary-treasurer of a local chapter of the Transport Workers Union. During his tenure, he embezzled nearly $400,000 from the Union. His sentence includes 10 months in prison, and he must also pay more than $300,000 in restitution.
Amy Ward Accused of Embezzling from Georgetown Soccer Association
Between January 2016 and June 2017, Amy Ward allegedly embezzled more than $82,000 from the Georgetown Soccer Association, where she was an employee. She used the organization’s debit cards to make unauthorized purchased and also stole cash from the concession stand. She was fired from the organization when her embezzlement was discovered, and she voluntarily turned herself in to the police.
Embezzlement is More Common Than You Think
Embezzlement appears, on the surface, to be easy to get away with. Embezzlers sometimes falsify or obscure documents to hide evidence of their stealing. It is also sometimes easier for people to rationalize stealing from an organization than from an individual person. As the penalties that these embezzlers face can show, though, the law takes embezzlement very seriously.
Contact Madrid Law About Embezzlement Cases
If you are facing criminal charges because of accusations of embezzlement or because someone embezzled money from you, you need a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer. Mario Madrid deals with cases related to embezzlement and other financial crimes. Contact Madrid Law in Houston to discuss your embezzlement case.
