A longtime secretary feels as though she has been slighted by her workplace. She has been attempting to get a promotion for years and just realized that a much younger woman has been promoted over her, probably because she has a college degree. She decides it is time to take the future into her own hands and steals a company credit card. She figures that it is now or never to start living her best life, and her company owes her, anyway. She starts using the credit card to gamble and books herself and her husband a few nights in a local hotel for a staycation.
She also purchases a ring doorbell and a coffee maker and has these items shipped to the office, so they look like the purchases are for the company. At first, she thinks she will be caught pretty quickly, but when she is not, she keeps on spending $1,000 to $2,000 a month on the stolen company credit card.
She keeps on spending for over two years until an accountant finally raises some questions about the spending. This type of scenario is far more common than most people realize. However, just because employee theft is common does not mean courts do not take it seriously. Illinois judges routinely send people to jail for stealing from their employers. There are also civil ramifications.
What Could Happen if You are Charged With Theft at Your Job?
Accusations of stealing from your employer can be embarrassing and scary. The penalties for property crimes in Illinois are strict. Illinois regards employee in workplace theft in the same way as some of the most serious cases of theft. Illinois has one of the lowest felony thresholds in the country.
Even if you have only been accused of stealing over $500 in property from your employer, you could still face felony theft charges with a penalty of up to five years in jail. If a court determines that the property you allegedly stole is government property, you could even face felony charges for stealing less than $500. If the theft involves using a company’s money for your personal gain, you could also face embezzlement charges.
If the theft involves using the company money for your personal gain, you may also face embezzlement charges. Companies will not always try to face criminal charges for employee theft. However, that does not mean you will not face penalties. You may be required to pay restitution, and you may lose your job. In other cases, employers will push for criminal charges and bring a civil lawsuit against an employer to receive the stolen goods and other damages.
Contact a Schaumburg Criminal Defense Attorney
Are you facing allegations of theft from your employer? At Glasgow & Olsson, our award-winning criminal defense lawyers have a proven track record of success in many high-profile state and federal criminal cases. Contact Glasgow & Olsson today to schedule your initial consultation to learn how our legal team can fight for your rights if you have been charged with a crime.