White collar criminal investigations involve voluminous financial documents and sophisticated electronic data forensics. Establishing a good-faith claim of right or lack of intent to defraud is central to defeating embezzlement charges.
1. Embezzlement (Penal Code § 503) Defense Strategies
- Good Faith Claim of Right (PC § 511): The defendant honestly and in good faith believed they had a lawful right to the property.
- Absence of Intent to Defraud: The funds were misallocated due to accounting errors, bookkeeping discrepancies, or software glitches.
- Coercion & Duress: The defendant acted under immediate threat of severe harm from third-party conspirators.