Embezzlement investigations often take months of waiting and careful scrutiny of financial records. When law enforcement believes they have enough to get a warrant, that slow pace may evolve into a quick arrest.
As the North Coast Journal reports, a sheriff’s office has taken in a woman suspected of embezzling $23,000 from a nonprofit and more from a county fair association.
Fairs and nonprofits
As the report details, the woman worked as a bookkeeper for a county fair association where she had access to finances. When the association audited its books, it found discrepancies that may stand as evidence of theft.
Law enforcement opened a case on the woman in early 2021 after they believed she embezzled from a youth enrichment nonprofit over the course of a year. The report does not mention any potential partners in this and references that general managers had no idea of illegal money transfers until the investigation.
Police arrested the woman at a casino with little incident. The report does not state how much they expect the woman embezzled from the county fair association.
Embezzlement penalties and defenses
Embezzlement over $5,000 comes with a penalty of up to 10 years in jail or a fine of up to $20,000. Convictions over these charges risk severe damage to a person’s future. Depending on the case, possible defenses include the woman having no intent to embezzle or doing so under duress.
People facing similar charges may wish to investigate their unique situation and determine the best course of action when navigating these serious allegations.