Practice Areas

• Accessory After the Fact
• Arson
• Assault & Battery
• Battery on a Peace Officer
• Assault with a Firearm
• Battery
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• Bail Review & Reduction
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon
• Child Endangerment
• Conspiracy
• Criminal Threats
• Domestic Violence
• Driving with A Suspended License
• Drug Possession
• Marijuana Possession for Sales
• Drug Possession for Personal Use
• Drug Possession for Sale
• DUI Defense
• I've been arrested for DUI. What happens to my Driver's License?
• DUI Under 21
• The 'Rising Blood Alcohol' Defense
• Attacking the Breath Test
• The "No Driving" Defense
• I've been arrested & cited for DUI? What happens next?
• Attacking the Blood Test
• Elder Abuse
• Expungements
• Hit and Run
• Housing Violations
• Juvenile Defense
• License Defense
• Nursing License Defense
• Murder
• Police Misconduct Litigation
• Pre-Filing Investigations
• Professional & Vocational License Defense
• Prostitution
• Public Intoxication
• Sex Crimes
• Indecent Exposure
• Solicitation of Prostitution
• Rape
• Theft Charges
• Robbery
• Purse Snatching
• Burglary
• Petty Theft
• Embezzlement
• Identity Theft
• Three Strikes Law
• Vacating Convictions
• Deportable Offenses: Vacating Your Guilty Plea to Avoid Deportation
• Vandalism
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Warrant Recall
• Weapons Charges
• Witness Intimidation

We are South Bay, Torrance Embezzlement Defense Lawyers.

Embezzlement, which generally falls under the purview of theft under Penal Code 484, is a dangerous crime with which to be charged. It can carry lengthy incarceration in county jail or state prison and carry heavy civil penalties. Because it carries the stigma of betrayal and dishonesty, an embezzlement conviction can threaten your ability to keep or secure employment or business or professional licensing.  And if you are not a US citizen, you can be deported if convicted of this crime. 

But there is hope.

Our South Bay (Torrance, Carson, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, Gardena, etc.) criminal defense lawyers have a combined experience of more than 50 years defending persons accused of embezzlement. Our founding partners, Bruce McGregor and Robert Ernenwein, are former Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys. Robert Ernenwein, one of our Co-founders, is Certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.. Robert Ernenwein and Bruce McGregor have both been named "Super Lawyers" by Los Angeles Magazine. Robert Ernenwein has appeared as a legal analyst on multiple cable news programs, including Fox News. Lorgio Coimbra is an experienced Criminal Defense and Immigration Lawyer who achieved awards for excellence in Constitutional Law while in law school. The experience and capabilities of the lawyers at McGregor & Ernenwein are unmatched.

Our extensive experience and knowledge give us the tools we need to successfully challenge embezzlement charges.

What does the prosecutor have to prove to show that I am guilty of embezzlement?
First, the prosecutor must show that you had a relationship of trust with the victim. Usually, this arises out of some relationship, employer-employee being the most common. However, it can also arise out of some other business of financial relationship, such as a partnership or other fiduciary obligation.

Second, the prosecution must show that the victim entrusted you with certain property. For example, if you worked for the victim, you were probably entrusted with money, supplies, or other assets or goods, as part of your job.

Third, the prosecutor must prove that you had the specific intent to deprive the victim of the property. Even if you ended up returning the property, the prosecutor will be able to prove this element if (s)he can show that you intended to keep the property (temporarily or permanently) at the time of the taking.

What can your lawyers do to defend me against charges of embezzlement?

Our South Bay criminal defense lawyers will scrutinize all police reports, witness statements and all discovery that the prosecutor has compiled in your case. We can contact the investigating officer and, if needed, employ the use of our defense investigator to interview witnesses.

We will look for any evidence negating the elements of the offense. One defense is that you did not take the property with the intent to misappropriate the funds, or that you had the authority (victim's consent) to dispense with the funds or property in a way that gave the appearance of impropriety (where none existed). Our South Bay criminal defense lawyers can also argue that you did not have the intent to deprive the victim of the property and that you used it in an appropriate fashion.

We can argue that you believed you had a claim of right over the property. If, for example, your employer entrusted you with money that you believed you could use to cover certain work-related expenses, we can argue that you had a good faith belief that you were entitled to do this, even if your employer did not specifically authorize you to make such an expense.

We have also been able to resolve many of these cases informally through what is known as a "Civil Compromise." Our South Bay criminal defense lawyers will contact the victim and work out an arrangement whereby restitution can be paid directly to the victim to satisfy the claim. Through negotiation with the prosecutor, the embezzlement count can be dismissed in recognition that the victim was compensated.

There is a host of issues we can evaluate based on our analysis of the police reports, witness statements and other evidence on file. Based on our findings, we may be able to successfully thwart a criminal prosecution in court, or otherwise weaken the case against you.

Our criminal defense lawyers represent clients throughout Southern California, including Alhambra, Arcadia, Artesia, Avalon, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bell gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Calabasas, Carson, Cerritos, City of Industry, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Los Angeles, El Monte, El Segundo, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Inland Empire, Irwindale, La Canada Flintridge, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Norwalk, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Playa Del Rey, Pomona, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, Seal Beach, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, Vernon, Watts, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, and Whittier.

Call us at 310-782-0552 or e-mail us immediately for your free consultation.

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Blog for Embezzlement

• How a Los Angeles Embezzlement Lawyer Can Help You

  Description: Have you been accused of embezzlement in Los Angeles? Find out how an experienced lawyer can help you stay out of jail.

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Library for Embezzlement:

• How Bad is Embezzlement in Los Angeles County?
  Description: If you have been charged with embezzlement in Los Angeles, you need to read this article. You also need to contact a Los Angeles embezzlement attorney for help.

View All

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Case Results for Embezzlement:

• Reduction of Felony Embezzlement to MIsdemeanor, Reduced Restitution & No Jailtime

Awarded: Reduction of Felony Embezzlement to MIsdemeanor, Reduced Restitution & No Jailtime