New York City Embezzlement Lawyer

Embezzlement investigations have a particular character that separates them from most other white-collar matters. The government rarely moves fast. Prosecutors and federal agents spend months, sometimes years, building a paper record before a single arrest is made. By the time a target learns they are under scrutiny, a significant amount of the evidentiary architecture has already been constructed against them. That delay is not accidental. It is strategy. And it demands that anyone who suspects they are in the government’s crosshairs respond with equal deliberateness. A New York City embezzlement lawyer who understands how these cases are built, not just how they are defended at trial, offers a fundamentally different caliber of representation.

In New York, embezzlement cases arise in nearly every sector of the economy. Financial services firms along Park Avenue, real estate operations in Midtown, nonprofit organizations in Brooklyn, healthcare networks in the outer boroughs, all of them generate embezzlement prosecutions. The conduct alleged is typically the same: someone entrusted with access to funds or assets diverted them for personal benefit. But the legal theories, the charging decisions, and the consequences vary considerably based on the amounts involved, the employer’s relationship with federal programs, and whether the government has chosen to pursue the matter through state or federal channels.

What rarely gets discussed early enough is the window that exists between the start of an investigation and the filing of charges. That window is where outcomes are shaped. Evidence can be contested before it hardens into a charging document. Witnesses can be spoken to before their accounts are locked in. Cooperation leverage can be evaluated. A skilled embezzlement attorney in New York City who enters a case during this pre-charge phase has tools that simply do not exist once an indictment lands.

How Jason Goldman Approaches Embezzlement Defense

Jason Goldman began his career as a Brooklyn prosecutor, handling serious felony cases and building the kind of trial instinct that only comes from years inside a courtroom. That background is directly relevant to embezzlement defense. He understands how prosecutors think, how they sequence their investigation, where they are most likely to look for corroboration, and where their cases tend to break down. With over 25 cases tried to verdict, Mr. Goldman does not treat the courtroom as a last resort. He approaches it as one possible arena among several, and he prepares for it from day one.

The Law Offices of Jason Goldman represents corporate executives, financial professionals, politicians, attorneys, and individuals from every industry who face high-stakes criminal exposure. His practice spans pre-arrest investigations, trials, and appellate work, which means clients facing embezzlement allegations get representation that covers every phase of the process, not just whatever stage they happen to be in when they first call. Recognized by the New York Post as “high-powered” and cited by Fox 5’s Rosanna Scotto as the attorney to call when you need serious legal help, Mr. Goldman brings a combination of prosecutorial insight, trial experience, and strategic media management that is particularly valuable in embezzlement cases, where reputation damage often compounds the legal exposure. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and serves on the Criminal Courts Committee of the New York City Bar Association.

Common Embezzlement Charges Handled in New York City

• Grand Larceny by Embezzlement: New York’s larceny statutes cover embezzlement under a broad framework, with penalties that escalate based on the value of funds taken. Amounts above $1 million constitute first-degree grand larceny, a class B felony carrying substantial prison exposure.
• Federal Embezzlement Charges: When the employer receives federal funding, when wire transfers cross state lines, or when the conduct involves federally insured financial institutions, the case moves to federal court. The Southern and Eastern Districts of New York are both active venues for these prosecutions, and federal sentencing guidelines create a very different risk profile than state court.
• Employee Theft from ERISA-Covered Plans: Embezzlement from employee benefit plans is a federal offense under ERISA. These cases frequently originate in the financial services and healthcare industries and carry specific statutory penalties distinct from general theft charges.
• Nonprofit and Government Fund Diversion: Employees at nonprofits and government agencies face both criminal prosecution and civil exposure when funds are diverted. These cases often attract media attention and draw involvement from the state Attorney General’s office.
• Bank Employee and Fiduciary Theft: Financial institution employees with access to customer accounts or trust funds face both federal charges and securities-related consequences. Regulatory proceedings often run parallel to criminal prosecution.
• Healthcare Embezzlement and Medicaid Fraud: Administrative staff with billing access at medical practices face charges under both general theft statutes and Medicaid fraud provisions. These cases are aggressively pursued by the New York State Medicaid Inspector General’s office and federal prosecutors alike.
• Corporate Officer Misconduct: Executives who approve transfers, redirect invoices, or create subsidiary structures to siphon funds from their companies may face embezzlement charges alongside breach of fiduciary duty claims in civil court.

What to Do If You Are Under Investigation for Embezzlement in New York

The most consequential mistake people make in embezzlement investigations is continuing to cooperate with internal investigators or human resources departments without understanding that anything said in those settings can and will be handed to law enforcement. Companies that conduct internal investigations are not doing so neutrally. They are building a record, often to transfer liability away from themselves and toward the individual. If your employer has called you into a meeting about financial discrepancies, or if you have been asked to turn over email access or financial records, you are not in a routine HR matter. You are in an investigation.

The relevant courts for embezzlement matters in New York City include the New York State Supreme Court for the county where the alleged conduct occurred, which may be Manhattan (New York County), Brooklyn (Kings County), the Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island. Federal cases in the five boroughs are handled by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, located at 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan, or the Eastern District of New York at 225 Cadman Plaza East in Brooklyn. Understanding which court is handling your matter shapes everything about the defense strategy, from how bail is approached to what discovery will look like to what sentencing risks are on the table.

Do not attempt to return funds or make arrangements with your employer without counsel present. While restitution is a factor courts and prosecutors consider, unilateral repayment attempts made without a lawyer often read as admissions and can complicate both the criminal defense and any parallel civil proceedings. Similarly, do not discuss the matter with colleagues, even those you trust. Witnesses get approached, and their accounts of your statements will be used.

Gather and preserve documents that are in your lawful possession: employment contracts, performance reviews, communications that may establish context for any transactions at issue. Do not delete anything. Destruction of records, even personal ones, in the context of a known investigation creates independent criminal exposure for obstruction.

The Anatomy of a New York Embezzlement Prosecution

Prosecutors building an embezzlement case are typically working backward from financial records. They start with an anomaly, a transaction that does not fit, a vendor that cannot be verified, a pattern of approvals that concentrated in one person’s hands, and they trace it outward. The digital forensics involved in modern financial crime cases are extensive. Email metadata, bank transfer records, accounting software logs, and corporate credit card statements all contribute to the evidentiary picture prosecutors assemble.

The government must establish both that funds or property were entrusted to the defendant and that the defendant intentionally converted those assets for personal use. The intent element is where many embezzlement defenses concentrate. Accounting errors, authorized discretion over funds, ambiguous approval chains, and inadequate internal controls all create space to challenge the government’s narrative. In complex corporate environments, the line between authorized judgment calls and criminal conversion is not always self-evident, and competent defense counsel can exploit that ambiguity.

Civil asset forfeiture and restitution orders frequently accompany embezzlement convictions, meaning the financial consequences of a guilty finding extend well beyond any prison sentence. Federal convictions can also trigger collateral consequences in regulated industries. A financial professional convicted of embezzlement typically faces immediate loss of licensure, and those consequences are separate from, and not cured by, any negotiated plea. A New York City embezzlement attorney who practices exclusively in this space understands that managing those downstream consequences is as much a part of the representation as the criminal defense itself.

Questions People Ask About Embezzlement Charges in New York

What is the difference between embezzlement and theft in New York?

New York does not have a separate embezzlement statute. Embezzlement is prosecuted under the grand larceny framework, but what distinguishes it is the relationship between the defendant and the property. In a traditional theft case, the property was never lawfully in the defendant’s possession. Embezzlement involves property that was lawfully entrusted to the defendant, meaning the criminal act is the conversion of that property rather than the initial taking. This distinction matters for how the prosecution constructs its case and where a defense can effectively push back.

Can embezzlement charges be filed as both state and federal crimes?

Yes, and the government has significant discretion in choosing which forum to pursue. Federal prosecutors typically get involved when the alleged conduct touches a federal program, a federally regulated institution, or involves interstate wire transfers. The Southern and Eastern Districts of New York both have active white-collar crime units that handle financial fraud matters, and federal sentencing guidelines generally create higher sentencing exposure than state court for the same underlying conduct.

Does paying the money back before charges are filed prevent prosecution?

Not necessarily. Repayment can be a mitigating factor that prosecutors and judges consider, but it does not eliminate criminal liability. In some cases, unilateral repayment made before retaining counsel can actually complicate a defense by creating an implicit acknowledgment of wrongdoing. Any discussion of restitution or repayment arrangements should happen through a criminal defense attorney who can structure those conversations to protect the client’s legal position.

What are the penalties for embezzlement in New York?

The penalties depend heavily on the dollar amount involved and whether the case is prosecuted in state or federal court. State grand larceny charges range from class E felonies for lower amounts up to class B felonies for amounts above $1 million, with corresponding prison terms ranging from probation-eligible dispositions up to significant incarceration. Federal cases are governed by sentencing guidelines that weigh the loss amount, the defendant’s role, and other aggravating factors, and the resulting sentencing ranges can be substantial, particularly in high-dollar cases.

What happens to my professional license if I am convicted of embezzlement?

For licensed professionals in New York, including attorneys, financial advisors, accountants, healthcare providers, and real estate brokers, a felony conviction for embezzlement typically triggers a separate licensing proceeding before the relevant regulatory body. These proceedings operate independently of the criminal case and can result in suspension or permanent revocation of licensure. Managing the sequence and strategy around both the criminal matter and the licensing exposure is an important part of a well-rounded defense.

Can my employer sue me civilly at the same time as criminal charges are pending?

Yes. Employers frequently pursue civil litigation simultaneously with, or immediately following, a criminal investigation. The civil and criminal standards are different, and the civil case does not require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Statements made in civil depositions can be used in the criminal case, which is why coordinating across both proceedings is critical. In some circumstances, asserting the Fifth Amendment in civil proceedings is appropriate and necessary.

What if the embezzlement was facilitated by another employee who also had access to the funds?

The government will often charge multiple individuals in embezzlement cases, and co-defendant dynamics create complex strategic considerations. Whether cooperation, joint defense agreements, or aggressive individual defense is the right approach depends on the specific facts, the evidence held by the government against each defendant, and what each individual’s exposure looks like. These are early, high-stakes decisions that benefit from experienced counsel who has navigated multi-defendant white-collar cases before.

How long does a federal embezzlement investigation typically take before charges are filed?

Federal white-collar investigations, including those involving embezzlement, routinely run for one to three years before charges are filed. The government uses grand jury subpoenas, interviews, and financial forensics over an extended period before presenting the matter to a grand jury for indictment. This timeline is not fixed, and the pace can accelerate dramatically if there is a cooperating witness or if the government believes a target is about to flee or destroy evidence. The existence of a long investigative runway is exactly why retaining counsel at the earliest sign of scrutiny matters.

Is it possible to resolve an embezzlement case without going to trial?

Yes. Many embezzlement cases resolve through negotiated plea agreements, deferred prosecution agreements, or, in some circumstances, declinations by the government. Whether a negotiated resolution is preferable to trial depends on the strength of the evidence, the available defenses, and the client’s specific priorities. Mr. Goldman approaches each matter by preparing as if it will go to trial, which positions the client for a stronger negotiating outcome if a resolution short of trial is ultimately the right strategy.

Can embezzlement charges affect immigration status?

A felony embezzlement conviction can have serious immigration consequences, including potential grounds for deportability or inadmissibility for non-citizens. The intersection of criminal defense and immigration law in white-collar cases is an area where generalist criminal defense is often insufficient. Defense strategy in these cases must account for the immigration consequences of any plea or conviction, and the specific terms of any plea agreement require careful analysis in light of applicable immigration law.

Embezzlement Defense Representation Across New York City and the Region

The Law Offices of Jason Goldman represents clients facing embezzlement allegations throughout New York City and the surrounding region. In Manhattan, the firm handles matters arising from financial services firms in Midtown, real estate companies along Fifth Avenue and the West Side, and corporate clients operating throughout Tribeca, the Financial District, and the Upper East Side. Brooklyn clients from Williamsburg, Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn, and Bay Ridge have retained the firm for state and federal embezzlement matters handled in Kings County Supreme Court and the Eastern District courthouse at Cadman Plaza. The firm also represents clients from the Bronx, Queens neighborhoods including Flushing, Astoria, and Jamaica, and Staten Island communities including St. George and Tottenville.

Beyond the five boroughs, the firm serves clients from Westchester County, Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, and the Hudson Valley region. Through pro hac vice admission, Mr. Goldman has extended his representation throughout the country for clients whose matters require his involvement in jurisdictions beyond New York. Whether the prosecution is unfolding in a state courthouse across the city or in a federal district court, the approach is the same: meticulous preparation, strategic positioning from the earliest stage, and representation that accounts for every arena in which the case will be fought.

Speak With a New York City Embezzlement Attorney Before the Government Defines the Story

The government builds embezzlement cases carefully and quietly. By the time most people seek out a New York City embezzlement attorney, the investigation has already developed further than they realize. Every day that passes without counsel is a day the other side is working without opposition. Jason Goldman and the Law Offices of Jason Goldman are available for confidential consultations with individuals who believe they may be under investigation, who have received a grand jury subpoena, who have been approached by law enforcement, or who have already been charged and are evaluating their options.

The earlier a defense is constructed, the more tools exist to shape the outcome. Reach out to the firm today to discuss your situation in complete confidence.