According to U.S. News & World Report, a former coroner for a south Mississippi county was indicted in late March on several charges, including embezzlement. In addition, the former Hancock County Coroner also faces three counts of false representations to defraud the government and one count of alteration of records, according to the State Auditor, Shad White.
To put this in perspective, in Mississippi, coroners are paid fees based on the services that they perform. In this case, the former Hancock County Coroner is alleged to have submitted and altered invoices to the Hancock County Board of Supervisors between February and March of 2021. As a result of this alleged fraud, he was paid $13,000 in public funds. His certification as a coroner was suspended in March of 2021, and he resigned from his post in July of 2021, claiming it was because of his recent cancer diagnosis.
What is Embezzlement?
Embezzlement involves a type of theft in which an individual steals property or money that has been entrusted to them by their employer or another party. This can occur is a variety of different setting, such as businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. It can involve a small amount of money or large sums, and it can be committed by employees at all levels of an organization.
How Does Mississippi Define Embezzlement?
Under Mississippi Law, any individual who fraudulently secretes, conceals, or converts to his own use, or secretes with intent to convert to his/her own use, any goods, rights in action, money, or other valuable security, effects, or property of any kind or description that has been entrusted to his/her care or possession by virtue of his office, position, place, or employment is considered to be guilty of embezzlement.
What Are the Penalties if Convicted of Embezzlement?
If an individual is convicted of embezzlement for a value less than $1,000, then he/she is guilty of misdemeanor embezzlement, and can face up to six (6) months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If an individual is convicted of embezzlement for a value more than $1,000 but less than $5,000, he/she is guilty of felony embezzlement, and can face up to five (5) years in prison, a fine of $5,000, or both. If convicted of embezzlement for a value more than $5,000 but less than $25,000, he/she is guilty of felony embezzlement, and can face up to ten (10) years in prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or both. Additionally, if convicted of embezzlement for a value more than $25,000 or more, he/she is guilty of felony embezzlement, and can face up to twenty (20) years in prison, a fine of $25,000, or both.
Finding an Attorney
If you have been searching the Mississippi area for a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney, look no further than Vic Carmody Jr., P.A. Over the years, we have helped numerous offenders pursue favorable outcomes. Although being accused of a crime like embezzlement is not a pleasant experience, there are many potential defense strategies that can be used to defend and reduce the charges against an offender. Call/contact us today for your free consultation to learn more.
Please also see us on mississippi-lawyers.com and view our reviews on avvo.com, superlawyers.com, and martindale.com. Our email address is mississippi-lawyers.com and our office phone number is (601) 948 – 4444 option 1.