Michigan Embezzlement and Fraud Defense Lawyer

If you are under investigation or already facing charges for embezzlement or fraud in Michigan, you need an experienced criminal defense firm on your side. Embezzlement and fraud cases can be intricate, involving multiple parties, complex financial transactions, and layered legal theories. Our embezzlement and fraud defense lawyers at Grabel & Associates are prepared to aggressively scrutinize every detail of your case and advocate vigorously for the best possible outcome.

As the best embezzlement defense attorneys in Michigan, we understand that even minor allegations can carry serious personal and professional consequences. Our legal team works proactively to challenge the prosecution’s evidence, protect your rights, and pursue the most favorable resolution possible under Michigan law.

Embezzlement (MCL 750.174 and MCL 750.181) and fraud (MCL 750.218) cover a broad spectrum of alleged wrongdoing. In Michigan, embezzlement charges may stem from allegations such as misappropriation of entrusted funds, unauthorized transfers, diversion of assets, check fraud, forgery, money laundering, tax fraud, bank fraud, counterfeiting, extortion, insider trading, and related offenses. These cases often overlap with other areas of white-collar crime, making them legally and factually complex. Our embezzlement and fraud attorneys in Michigan are well-versed in handling all varieties of these matters, and we approach each case with a commitment to securing the best possible result for you.

Under Michigan law, embezzlement is a crime committed by an individual who occupies a position of trust or authority, such as an agent, employee, trustee, custodian, or bailee, relative to another person’s property. The key elements of embezzlement include the following:

• possession or control of money or property belonging to another,
• fiduciary or custodial duty or relationship,
• wrongful conversion or disposition of the property for personal use, and
• intent to defraud or convert without consent.

A prosecutor must prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.

Michigan law’s definition of embezzlement also encompasses situations in which an individual is entrusted with property or funds and fraudulently disposes of, transfers, or converts them to personal use without the owner’s authority. Because embezzlement often involves multiple transactions, financial records, and competing inferences, a vigorous, detail-oriented defense is essential.

An experienced Michigan embezzlement and fraud defense lawyer can analyze complex financial evidence, challenge the prosecution’s interpretation of intent, and build a strong defense tailored to the facts of your case.

The penalties for embezzlement vary depending on the value of the property or funds involved and your prior criminal record. Below is a general framework of potential consequences:

• Less than $200: If the embezzled amount is less than $200 (a misdemeanor), the penalty may include up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $500 or three times the value of the property (whichever is greater).
• Between $200 and $1,000: If the amount involved is between $200 and $1,000 (or less than $200 but involving a prior conviction or property taken from specific organizations like nonprofits), the offense is a misdemeanor that carries up to one year in jail and a fine of $1,000 or three times the value of the property (whichever is greater).
• Between $1,000 and $20,000: When the property is valued between $1,000 and $20,000 (or within lower amounts under aggravating circumstances) or for repeat offenders, the charge may be elevated to a felony, with penalties including up to five years’ imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000 or three times the value (whichever is greater).
• Between $20,000 and $50,000: Embezzlement between $20,000 and $50,000 or involving recidivist factors may carry up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $15,000 or three times the value (whichever is greater).
• Between $50,000 and $100,000: For amounts between $50,000 and $100,000, the potential sentence may increase to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $25,000 or three times the value (whichever is greater).
• More than $100,000: For embezzlement exceeding $100,000, the maximum exposure can be 20 years in prison and fines up to $50,000 or three times the property’s value (whichever is greater).

These sentencing ranges may be affected by additional enhancements, prior convictions, or statutory aggravating factors. Because of the severity of potential punishments, immediate and skilled legal representation is critical in every theft and fraud case.

Consulting with an experienced Michigan embezzlement and fraud lawyer can help you understand the potential penalties you face, explore available defenses, and work toward reducing or dismissing the charges.

To convict you of embezzlement, prosecutors must prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt: the existence of a relationship of trust, your control or access over the property, the wrongful conversion, and intent to defraud.

Our defense strategy involves dissecting those elements, questioning each inference the prosecution might draw, and uncovering weaknesses in the government’s evidence. We examine whether your role truly amounted to one of fiduciary responsibility, whether the movement of funds may have had legitimate justification, whether your actions were authorized or consensual, and whether the evidence of intent is sufficient.

Because financial crimes often involve extensive records, forensic accounting, electronic evidence, and expert testimony, we engage specialists to analyze transaction histories, trace funds, assess accounting practices, and identify holes or alternative interpretations in the prosecution’s narrative. Working with an embezzlement and fraud attorney in Michigan ensures that complex financial data is translated into a clear, compelling defense.

At our firm, we emphasize precision, diligence, and strategic planning. From the outset, we conduct a comprehensive review of the alleged misconduct, evaluate the strengths and vulnerabilities of the prosecution’s case, and design a defense approach tailored to your circumstances. We never rely on boilerplate arguments. Instead, we thoroughly investigate tangential evidence, motion practice, discovery obligations, and pretrial tactics to undermine the prosecution’s claims.

We analyze your communications, financial records, contracts, electronic devices, and other pertinent documents to develop factual narratives that challenge the prosecution’s version of events. Our Michigan embezzlement and fraud lawyers may file motions to exclude improperly obtained evidence, suppress statements, or break chains of proof. And, when necessary, we take an aggressive approach to the trial. But we also understand that many clients prefer a guaranteed outcome and explore opportunities for favorable resolution through negotiation when doing so serves your best interests.

Complex financial crime cases demand a deep understanding of forensic accounting, discovery obligations, expert testimony, and criminal procedure. A specialized criminal defense team brings insight into how white-collar prosecutions are prepared, how to assess risk, and how to challenge expert analyses meaningfully.

We focus exclusively on criminal defense, and our team of attorneys includes several who have spent decades litigating theft and property offenses. This unmatched experience gives us a strategic advantage. As experienced Michigan embezzlement and fraud lawyers, we are honest and transparent about your legal options. We explain the likely consequences, the stages of criminal proceedings, and the costs and benefits of each path. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your case and to do everything we can to achieve your goals.

Put simply, your case is not only another file. We assign resources, attention, and creativity to your defense, making it a priority to remain responsive, communicative, and proactive at every stage of the process.

No matter where you are in Michigan, Grabel & Associates defends clients against embezzlement and fraud charges throughout the state. Our team is experienced in federal and state white-collar matters, and we bring that depth of knowledge to every client. We serve clients in Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and beyond, and offer the same rigorous defense no matter where the case arises.

If you have been contacted by law enforcement, believe that you are under investigation, or have already been charged with embezzlement or fraud, time is of the essence. Early intervention can yield significant advantages, including preserving evidence, identifying witnesses, protecting your rights, and shaping the investigation in your favor.

You can call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-342-7896 or use our secure online form to schedule a free consultation. We will explain your options and begin crafting a defense tailored to your situation. We are ready to act promptly and decisively to protect your freedom and your reputation.

Take control of your future by securing experienced criminal defense now. Do not wait. Reach out to our offices for a confidential, no–cost consultation and begin building your strongest possible case today.