ARRESTED? INVESTIGATED?
ARRESTADO? INVESTIGADO?
An accusation that you took money entrusted to you can threaten your freedom, employment, professional license, and reputation. A payroll discrepancy, disputed reimbursement, or missing deposit may become a criminal investigation before anyone hears your explanation.
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Do not let an unanswered accusation define your future. If you face an employee theft investigation or an embezzlement charge in Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Doral, Coral Gables, or elsewhere in Miami-Dade, get defense counsel involved before deciding how to respond.
Call or text 305-644-1800 to arrange a free strategy session with Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers. Bring the charge or interview request, relevant agreements, and financial records you lawfully possess so we can discuss how our firm can help defend you.
Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers defends people accused of embezzlement, employee theft, and related financial offenses in Miami-Dade. We examine authorization, account access, transaction records, and intent to challenge the accusation and help you make informed decisions.
If an employer, investigator, or police officer asks you to explain missing funds, get legal advice before giving a detailed statement or signing a repayment agreement. Call or text 305-644-1800 for a free strategy session.
Represented since 1987
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Embezzlement commonly describes the alleged misuse of money or property that someone was trusted to handle. Florida includes conduct traditionally called embezzlement within its theft framework under Florida Statute 812.012. The formal charge may therefore be petit theft or grand theft.
Under Florida Statute 812.014, the prosecution must establish a knowing obtaining or use, or attempted obtaining or use, of another’s property with the required intent to deprive or appropriate it. Temporary deprivation can qualify. Planning to replace the money does not automatically defeat the charge.
Having access to an account is different from having permission to use its funds for a particular purpose. Conversely, an accounting shortage does not by itself establish who caused it or whether that person acted with criminal intent. Our defense starts with the actual transactions and the authority behind them.
These descriptions do not determine guilt or the proper charge. A disagreement over compensation, ownership, or business practices requires careful review of contracts and communications.
For ordinary property, the theft classifications in Florida Statute 812.014, together with Florida Statute 775.082 and Florida Statute 775.083, generally produce these maximums:
Special property, prior convictions, enhancements, and other statutory circumstances can change the classification or sentence. Alternative fine provisions may apply. These figures are general statutory maximums, not predictions for your case.
The court can also order restitution for qualifying loss under Florida Statute 775.089. Probation, financial restrictions, and court costs may follow. A conviction may affect employment, licensing, housing, or immigration status. Noncitizens should obtain coordinated criminal defense and immigration advice before accepting a plea.
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We review policies, agreements, emails, messages, and the actual practices of the business. Authorized advances, reimbursement arrangements, mistakes, and misunderstandings may undermine the State’s theory when supported by evidence. A partial ownership interest is not an automatic defense; the rights of other owners still matter.
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Shared passwords, multiple cash handlers, outsourced bookkeeping, and administrator access can complicate attribution. We compare login histories, bank records, audit trails, schedules, and approval records rather than assuming that the person assigned to an account made every transaction.
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We examine whether the accusation counts the same loss twice, ignores legitimate payments, or includes transactions outside the alleged scheme. When appropriate, financial professionals can assist the defense. Florida permits aggregation of amounts taken through one scheme or course of conduct under Florida Statute 812.012; the scope of that alleged course must be examined carefully.
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We evaluate how investigators obtained account records, devices, and statements, and whether a legally supported motion can exclude unlawfully obtained evidence. Preserve records you lawfully possess. Do not delete files, alter entries, access accounts after permission ends, or ask others to change their accounts of events.
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Where available, we explore reduced charges, diversion, or negotiated terms while preparing to challenge the prosecution’s proof. Repayment can matter in negotiations, but it does not automatically erase criminal liability or require dismissal. Discuss proposed payments and admissions with defense counsel first.
Not every workplace financial dispute is a federal case. Certain allegations involving United States property may implicate 18 U.S.C. 641, while qualifying bank-related conduct may implicate 18 U.S.C. 656. The prosecution must establish the applicable federal elements and connection.
Federal charges have their own procedures and sentencing rules. We review the investigating agency, charging documents, financial records, and possible overlap with state allegations to determine the defense work the case requires.
A teenager may face accusations involving a part-time job, club fundraiser, online payment account, or money collected for others. The defense should examine adult supervision, instructions, account access, maturity, and whether the evidence proves knowing misconduct.
Under Florida Statute 985.12, qualifying misdemeanor allegations may be considered for a prearrest delinquency citation program under applicable circuit criteria. Eligibility is not automatic, and this provision does not turn a felony allegation into a misdemeanor.
Serious theft allegations can also raise adult-prosecution issues under Florida Statute 985.557. Age, charge, and history matter. Parents should seek counsel early to address the legal case, school consequences, and available juvenile options without assuming that youth guarantees a particular result.
An investigation may begin with an employer complaint, audit, bank referral, or request for an interview. Early defense work can preserve explanations and records before a filing decision. An arrest does not establish guilt or require the prosecutor to keep the initial charge.
After charges are filed, the defense reviews discovery, investigates disputed transactions, assesses motions, and advises you about trial or a proposed resolution. Follow release conditions and court orders. We can request permission to appear or resolve appropriate matters in your absence, and prepare affidavits and authorities for representation when needed. Court approval is required; do not miss a hearing unless excused.
You may remain silent about the alleged offense and request an attorney before answering investigative questions. Whether police must provide immediate access to counsel or stop questioning depends on the legal setting, including custody and interrogation. The Sixth Amendment right to counsel generally attaches after formal proceedings begin. Comply with lawful identification requirements and do not lie to investigators.
Albert Quirantes has practiced criminal defense for more than 35 years, represented more than 8,000 clients, and handled numerous jury trials. The firm has more than 1,400 five-star Google reviews and serves clients in English and Spanish.
The team includes Stephen Millan, a former Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge and former prosecutor; Arthur Spiegel, a former prosecutor and public defender with more than 40 years of experience; Jorge E. Alonso, a bilingual attorney with more than 40 years of experience; and Jonathan Ibañez, a criminal defense trial lawyer whose work includes legal technology and AI-based defenses.
Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers is located at 1815 NW 7th Street, Miami, FL 33125. We help clients evaluate the evidence, understand their options, and build a defense directed at protecting their future.
Yes, depending on the facts. An intent to return funds does not necessarily defeat an allegation of temporary deprivation. Permission, timing, and the actual agreement remain important.
No. An audit may identify discrepancies, but the defense can examine its assumptions, missing records, accounting methods, and attribution. The prosecution still must prove every criminal element beyond a reasonable doubt.
There is no automatic dismissal rule based on repayment. A prosecutor may consider restitution, but the criminal case remains separate from the employer’s wishes. Get advice before making admissions or signing an agreement.
Yes. Shared ownership does not authorize every withdrawal. Agreements, ownership rights, consent, and the intended use of funds require individual review.
Eligibility depends on the exact charge, disposition, record, and statutory exclusions, including Florida Statute 943.0584. Do not assume a withheld adjudication or negotiated plea will qualify.
Do not let an unanswered accusation define your future. If you face an employee theft investigation or an embezzlement charge in Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Doral, Coral Gables, or elsewhere in Miami-Dade, get defense counsel involved before deciding how to respond.
Call or text 305-644-1800 to arrange a free strategy session with Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers. Bring the charge or interview request, relevant agreements, and financial records you lawfully possess so we can discuss how our firm can help defend you.