In the state of Vermont, and across the United States, embezzlement is a type of theft crime that involves the person placed in charge of managing or otherwise handling the funds or property involved. This means that the person who has been placed in a position of responsibility over the property steals the property from its rightful owner or entity for their own personal gain, and the penalties one can face for an embezzlement charge are serious and often reflect the monetary value of their crime.
Embezzlement can occur in a variety of settings and any amount of funds or property may be involved. While larger scale embezzlement may be better known, these crimes can be committed on a smaller scale as well, and examples of both types of embezzlement can be found throughout the state of Vermont. One example of smaller scale embezzlement would be a person placed in charge of handling funds for a school fundraiser taking a small amount of money out of the funds raised, and no matter the amount, their position of responsibility will cause their crime to be considered embezzlement rather than any other type of property theft.
Vermont Laws And Penalties
As in many other states across the nation, Vermont judges embezzlement cases on the value of the property in question. Embezzlement charges for property of a greater value will include harsher penalties, and cases of embezzlement that involve property of a lesser value will come with lesser penalties to fit the crime. These laws and penalties include:
- Property valued at $100 or less: If the property involved in the embezzlement case does not exceed $100 in value, the defendant can then face penalties of up to 1 year in jail as well as a fine of up to $1,000. These penalties may be given separately or together, and these cases are judged on an individual case by case basis.
- Property valued at more than $100: Embezzlement cases in the state of Vermont that involve property valued at more than $100 will involve harsher charges and penalties. A defendant in one of these cases can face penalties including a prison sentence not exceeding 10 years, as well as a fine not exceeding $10,000. These cases, much like the smaller scale cases, will be judged on an individual case by case basis.
Vermont Embezzlement Penalties
In cases of general embezzlement, a person may face jail time, prison time, or fines, depending on the property value amount in question. This means that embezzlement cases that involve higher property amounts will come with loftier penalties, while those with lower amounts will involve lesser penalties, but in all cases a person can be expected to pay fines or face imprisonment. However, the state of Vermont may charge a person with harsher penalties or charges depending on their relationship with the victim should they hold a position of power over them. For instance, embezzlement carried out by a municipal officer or public official will include penalties of a $1,000 fine as well as up to 10 years imprisonment even if the amount taken is found to be under $100.
Statute Of Limitations on Vermont
In the state of Vermont, a person must face charges for their crimes of embezzlement within 6 years of the crimes being committed by the state’s statute of limitations laws. The statute of limitations is the maximum period of time allowed to have elapsed before a person is brought to court for crimes committed, and these can either begin at the time of the action or the time of discovery depending on the crime in question.
Key Vermont Embezzlement Cases
- Newport Woman Pleads Guilty in Embezzlement Case – A former office manager at a Newport area auto dealership plead guilty to embezzlement after stealing over $400,000 from her former employer over the course of 5 years from 2007 until 2012.
- Plea Deal Set in $120,000 Embezzlement Case in Vermont – A Duxbury, Vermont woman faces a felony embezzlement charge after stealing over $120,000 from the Hardwood Youth Hockey Association as well as the Cold Hollow Cider Mill where she served as treasurer and office manager.
- UVM Employee Accused of Embezzlement – A former employee of the University of Vermont is facing embezzlement charges after allegedly stealing more than $9,000 from accounts in the Cat Card system over the course of 10 months in 2012 and 2013. The theft is said to have affected around 68 victims who held accounts at the school.
- Manchester Woman Faces Embezzlement Charge – The former chief financial officer of a Bennington area property management company is facing a felony embezzlement charge after she charged over $23,000 in various purchases to company credit cards for personal use in 15 separate incidents.