Sophisticated Defense Against White Collar And Financial Crimes Charges
I am attorney David M. Lurie, and I want to be absolutely clear – I do not represent “bad people”. I represent good people who made mistakes or face accusations of making one. Oftentimes, we are far too quick to condemn those facing fraud and embezzlement charges. It is not a pretty word, to be sure. Many times, in cases involving white collar crime and embezzlement, many are affected, from business owners to board members and minor shareholders.
It is easy to lump individuals under the umbrella of corruption, privilege and greed. However, there is no such thing as a “simple case of embezzlement”. In almost all of these cases, the story runs much deeper. Good people do foolish things, especially when the bills are piling up and there is not enough money to go around. When a good person does a bad thing, I am here to help minimize the penalties you face.
Discover What Charges You Are Facing
Accusations could involve borrowing money and losing control of the situation. Possibly, you thought taking their money was the only way around some tough circumstances. For over 45-plus years, I have looked deeper and listened to the whole story. I represent people facing charges with white collar crimes, including:
- Fraud crimes
- Embezzlement
- Diverting company assets
- Falsifying expense records
In certain situations, if you have a family member or other person who can help you financially, and you can make restitution to the other party prior to sentencing, I might be able to keep your sentence to just probation or even prevent charges from being filed altogether.
Working To Lessen The Impact
As a fraud crimes lawyer, I work every day to craft the best defense possible for my clients, trying to minimize the penalties they might face for any white collar charges they face. When negotiation won’t work, or when you are truly innocent and want to fight all the way, we work with a team of skilled litigators who will take your case to court. Our primary focus is mitigation – working with the prosecution to negotiate an arrangement to minimize the penalties you are facing.
White collar crimes can easily end up in Federal Court. If this happens, you will need an experienced defense attorney on your side. I have over four decades of experience and have represented good people who have made mistakes.
If you are being charged with a white collar crime, you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you contact me, the sooner I can begin working on how the prosecution will look at you and your case. This allows me to build your best defense. Your reputation, your career and your future are on the line. With years of practice in both Missouri and Kansas, I am well-versed in the laws of both states. I can help you navigate the legal system to minimize the penalties you face.
FAQ On Embezzlement
Embezzlement is a complex criminal charge that most people have trouble grasping. This is a problem when you’re facing charges of embezzlement and this will cause you a lot of problems. But I can help you get answers. In fact, below I’ve provided answers to some of the questions my clients ask most frequently.
What is considered embezzlement in Missouri?
According to the law, any misapplication or appropriation of funds, money or credit by any officer or employee of any financial institution is embezzlement. Largely, this means, if a person has access to a business’s financial resources and uses them for personal, nonbusiness reasons, they have embezzled.
What is the minimum amount for embezzlement?
There is no minimum amount for embezzlement; however, if the amount embezzled is less than $750 where the charge can change from a class E felony to a class D felony.
What are the four elements of embezzlement?
In any embezzlement charge, the charge rests on four different factors:
- A theft of property, which requires the stolen assets did not belong to the defendant, so a sole proprietor of a business cannot embezzle assets, as he owns the assets.
- Previous legal possession of the assets, meaning that the defendant had been given access to the stolen assets
- Duty of trust means that the person must have been in a place of trust to the victimized organization, such as an employee or financial advisor
- Intent, meaning that the person who stole or misused the resources could not have done it by accident.
If any one of these elements is lacking from your case, then an embezzlement charge is much harder to fight. And I will fight it for you.
Contact Me For Intelligent, Tailored Defense Representation
When you come to see me at my Kansas City office or my Lee’s Summit office, we will sit down and discuss your situation in its entirety. We will then work together to outline an intelligent and realistic plan for you that is tailored to your case. Mitigation is key. I will present you in the best possible light to the prosecutor and hopefully minimize the penalties you face.
If you need an experienced white collar crime lawyer for charges brought in Missouri or Kansas, contact me immediately at 816-221-5900. You may also contact me online.