Tulsa Lawyers Describe Embezzlement

Embezzlement is a serious crime In Oklahoma, it is unlawful to fraudulently appropriate property of any person or legal entity, legally obtained, to any use or purpose not intended or authorized by its owner, or the secretion of the property with the fraudulent intent to appropriate it to such use or purpose.

Punishment for Embezzlement in Tulsa

Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1451

Embezzlement of property valued at less than $1,000 – If the value of the property embezzled is less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), any person convicted shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed one (1) year or, at the discretion of the court, by imprisonment in the county jail for one or more nights or weekends pursuant to Section 991a-2 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Property embezzled valued between $1,000 and $2,500 – If the value of the property embezzled is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or more but less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), any person convicted shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed two (2) years or in the county jail for a term not to exceed one (1) year, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and ordered to pay restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Embezzlement of property valued between $2,500 and $15,000 – If the value of the property embezzled is Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) or more but less than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00), any person convicted shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed five (5) years, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and ordered to pay restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Embezzlement of property valued at more than $15,000 – If the value of the property embezzled is Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) or more, any person convicted shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed eight (8) years, subject to a fine not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), and ordered to pay restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Definition of Embezzlement in Oklahoma

A. Embezzlement is the fraudulent appropriation of property of any person or legal entity, legally obtained, to any use or purpose not intended or authorized by its owner, or the secretion of the property with the fraudulent intent to appropriate it to such use or purpose, under any of the following circumstances:

1. Where the property was obtained by being entrusted to that person for a specific purpose, use, or disposition and shall include, but not be limited to, any funds “held in trust” for any purpose;

2. Where the property was obtained by virtue of a power of attorney being granted for the sale or transfer of the property;

3. Where the property is possessed or controlled for the use of another person;

4. Where the property is to be used for a public or benevolent purpose;

5. Where any person diverts any money appropriated by law from the purpose and object of the appropriation;

6. Where any person fails or refuses to pay over to the state, or appropriate authority, any tax or other monies collected in accordance with state law, and who appropriates the tax or monies to the use of that person, or to the use of any other person not entitled to the tax or monies;

7. Where the property is possessed for the purpose of transportation, without regard to whether packages containing the property have been broken;

8. Where any person removes crops from any leased or rented premises with the intent to deprive the owner or landlord interested in the land of any of the rent due from that land, or who fraudulently appropriates the rent to that person or any other person; or

9. Where the property is possessed or controlled by virtue of a lease or rental agreement, and the property is willfully or intentionally not returned within ten (10) days after the expiration of the agreement.

Punishment for Embezzlement Crimes in Oklahoma:

1. If the value of the property embezzled is less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), any person convicted shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed one (1) year or, at the discretion of the court, by imprisonment in the county jail for one or more nights or weekends pursuant to Section 991a-2 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or by both such fine and imprisonment;

2. If the value of the property embezzled is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or more but less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), any person convicted shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed two (2) years or in the county jail for a term not to exceed one (1) year, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and ordered to pay restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

3. If the value of the property embezzled is Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) or more but less than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00), any person convicted shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed five (5) years, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and ordered to pay restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes; or

4. If the value of the property embezzled is Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) or more, any person convicted shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed eight (8) years, subject to a fine not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), and ordered to pay restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

State of Oklahoma or County Officials Charged as a Felony:

Any county or state officer, deputy or employee of such officer, who shall divert any money appropriated by law from the purpose and object of the appropriation shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years, and a fine equal to triple the amount of money so embezzled and ordered to pay restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

The fine shall operate as a judgment lien at law on all estate of the party so convicted and sentenced, and shall be enforced by execution or other process for the use of the person whose money or other funds or property were embezzled. In all cases the fine, so operating as a judgment lien, shall be released or entered as satisfied only by the person in interest.