Throughout the city lately, Los Angeles White Collar Defense Lawyers are working overtime, defending people from a variety of criminal charges ranging from embezzlement to money laundering. A recent case in Van Nuys highlights how white collar charges can even impact those who work in the criminal law industry. A Van Nuys woman who worked as a bail bonds agent was in court on a felony count of grand theft by embezzlement. The woman is 55 years old and was taken into custody earlier this month; she faces a maximum of three years in prison if she's convicted. She allegedly stole from clients in order to use these funds personally. According to authorities, from February through April 2009 she executed 13 American Surety Co. bail bonds worth almost $400,000. She is accused of collecting at least $34,000 in gross premiums from 12 of the 13 defendants that she bailed out, but failed to repay over $5,000 in net premiums due to the Bail Bond company. The investigation also uncovered other alleged crimes, including failing to return or account for 11 bail bonds with a face value of $250,000 and worth $3,250 in premiums. Investigators learned of the alleged embezzlement scheme last may and forced the woman to give up her license. Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating (stealing) assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted. Any white collar crime charge involves mountains of paperwork, bank statements, electronic transfer notices and much more. The government is trying to prove that the alleged criminal used money illegally, didn't pay taxes and didn't pay the people they were supposed to pay. Unlike a crime such as stealing a car or breaking into someone's house to steal their television, there are no finger prints or witnesses to a white collar theft crime. The government must build its case through paperwork and investigation. If you or someone you know has been arrested for or accused of a white collar crime in Los Angeles, contact a qualified lawyer today at Kestenbaum Eisner & Gorin. We know how best to craft a defense. We use the best experts in the field of investigations, expert witnesses and accounting in order to build your case. Tagged as: white collar crime fraud theft laws