As reported in the August 14, 2014 edition of the Providence Journal, a Woonsocket woman has entered a plea in a felony embezzlement case. The woman admitted that she embezzled money from the Woonsocket Municipal Court when she was employed there as a court clerk. She embezzled nearly $400,000 over a six (6) year period. The plea agreement is for her to serve up to eighteen (18) months imprisonment and pay restitution. She will be sentenced in September.
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-41-3, embezzlement is defined as every official of a financial institution and every officer, agent, clerk, servant, or other person to whom any money or other property shall be entrusted for any specific purpose, and every person acting as executor, administrator, conservator, guardian, receiver, assignee, custodian, or trustee appointed by order, decree or judgment of court, or by deed, will or other instrument in writing, who shall embezzle or fraudulently convert to his or her own use, or who shall take or secrete, with intent to embezzle or fraudulently convert to his or her own use, any money or other property which shall have come into his or her possession or shall be under his or her care or charge by virtue of his or her employment or for that specific purpose or by virtue of his or her acting as executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, receiver, assignee, custodian, or trustee, and every person who shall collect or receive money or property from another for a commission to be retained out of the money or other property so collected or received, and who shall fraudulently retain out of that money or property so collected or received more than the amount of the commission, and shall embezzle or fraudulently convert it to his or her own use, or shall take or secrete it with intent to embezzle or fraudulently to convert the same to his or her own use, shall be deemed guilty of larceny.
The amount of money stolen impacts the penalties imposed. If the money embezzled is over $100.00 the penalties include a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or three (3) times the value of the money or property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than twenty (20) years, or both. If the money or property embezzled is worth less than $100.00, the penalties include a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
If you or a family member has been charged with embezzlement, larceny or theft crimes, please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process. Please contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey, Esq., at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.