Have You Been Accused of or Arrested for a White Collar Crime?

Marc Emden has represented hundreds of clients in Maryland and the District of Columbia facing criminal charges involving theft offenses. He knows about the professional, reputational, and financial consequences of facing theft charges. If you are in need of a Rockville criminal lawyer as a result of being accused of a crime or arrested, he will aggressively protect your rights, whatever the charge.

Montgomery County, Maryland criminal defense attorney Marc Emden represents clients in the District of Columbia, and throughout Maryland including Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring in Montgomery County, as well as in Prince George’s County, Howard County, Dorchester County, Washington County, and other counties in Maryland.

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Shoplifting, Theft Offenses, and White Collar Crime

Theft is the taking of property of another with the intent to permanently deprive the true owner of that property. White Collar Crime is a term used to describe criminal conduct involving illegal acts that use deceit and concealment to obtain money, property or services, or to secure a business or professional advantage.

If you have been charged with any type of theft offense in Maryland or in Washington D.C., attorney Marc Emden is ready to work with you to build the best possible legal defense and to help you win your case. After practicing law for almost 30 years, Marc Emden has the skills to help you in your criminal case.

If you were arrested for shoplifting, you will need the advice of a skilled and aggressive theft defense lawyer who will investigate your case and challenge the government’s case at every turn.

Over the many years of representing hundreds of people charged with this crime, Marc Emden has found that often taking someone else property can merely be a crime of circumstance. Sometimes depression or a sense of desperation due to unforeseen financial problems can cloud someone’s judgment and cause them to commit acts they know to be unlawful. Marc Emden will explore questions like, was the stolen money property used to pay for medical treatment for an ill family member? Or, do you have a history of clinical depression?

When it is helpful, Marc Emden of Rockville, Maryland, will work closely with a psychiatrist or other experts who can evaluate the state of circumstances involving your offense. The circumstances surrounding the incident should play a key role in developing a defense strategy to fight or minimize theft charges.

Theft includes simple shoplifting, auto theft, and burglary and robbery. In Maryland, misdemeanor theft of goods or services of value less than $500.00, is punishable by up to eighteen months in prison. Felony theft, which involves the theft of goods or services worth over $500.00, is punishable by a period of incarceration of up to 15 years. A theft conviction of either type has significant consequences beyond jail. A theft crime in Maryland is often treated as a “Crime of Moral Turpitude,” and can often have a significant effect of security clearance, immigration and employment, including the deportation of resident aliens.

It is crucial that if you are charged with theft you remember not to make any statements to the police, and contact Marc Emden immediately. Please call us at (301) 762-7007.

Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

What is white collar crime?

White collar crime is a term used to describe criminal conduct involving illegal acts that use deceit and concealment to obtain money, property or services, or to secure a business or professional advantage. Another way to define white collar crime is as a “paper” crime or crime that is committed in the workplace in white-collar industries as opposed to blue-collar industries. White collar crimes are usually not violent crimes.

If I am charged with stealing a motor vehicle, can I also be charged with theft over $500?

Yes. You can be charged with both offenses. Although if you are found guilty of theft of a motor vehicle, the charge of theft over $500 would already be covered by the motor vehicle theft charge.

If I found something, or it was delivered to me by mistake and do not return it to the owner, is it theft?

Yes. If you fail to take reasonable steps to find the owner, it is a theft. This could include finding something in a park or office and not making a reasonable attempt to locate the owner. If a package was mistakenly delivered, you should contact either the sender or the carrier to notify them of the mistake.

If a juvenile was charged with theft, can he be charged as an adult?

It is rare that a juvenile charged with theft can be charged as an adult. The situation would depend on whether the juvenile was charged with other crimes at the time and the extent of their prior juvenile record.

What are the Maryland Sentencing Guidelines and how to do they affect my case?

These guidelines come in the form of a chart which suggests to the Judge the recommended period of incarceration, or whether the Defendant should eligible for probation instead. The Maryland sentencing guidelines cover most criminal cases originating in the Circuit Court. The chief goals of sentencing guidelines are:

  • To increase equity in sentencing by reducing unwarranted disparity, including any racial disparity, while retaining judicial discretion to individualized sentences;
  • To articulate an explicit sentencing policy while providing a regular basis for policy review and change;
  • To provide information for new or rotating judges; and
  • To promote increased visibility and aid public understanding of the sentencing process.

The guidelines consider factors including the Defendant’s prior criminal history and the nature of the offenses for which the Defendant was convicted. If you are facing a sentence as a result of a criminal charge, Marc Emden will assist you in understanding how these guidelines might shape your sentence.

Please note that these answers should not be construed as legal advice in all situations. You should speak with an attorney before making any decisions about your legal matter. These answers are intended only to provide general information.

Have You Been Accused of or Arrested for a White Collar Crime?

Rockville criminal defense lawyer Marc Emden represents theft offenses and collar crime cases in the District of Columbia, and throughout Maryland including Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring in Montgomery County, as well as Prince George’s County, Howard County, Dorchester County, Washington County, and other counties in Maryland.

If You Want to Consult With Me About Your Case, Please Schedule a Consultation

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