How these accusations start
Many cases start with an internal audit, a register discrepancy, a loss prevention review, or a coworker's report, and the employer often interviews the employee before contacting police. New York does not use a separate embezzlement charge; taking an employer's money or property is generally charged as larceny, graded by value, and related charges can involve falsifying business records. Accusations can be mistaken, for example when shared passwords, unclear expense policies, or someone else's access explain the gap. Others involve real but smaller amounts than alleged, which matters because value affects the level of the charge.
The meeting, the statement, and the demand
You can decline to sign a written statement or admission until you have spoken with a lawyer, even though the employer may make its own employment decision either way, and what is signed in that meeting is often central later. Employers sometimes ask for repayment or a promissory note, and while restitution can matter in how a case is resolved, signing an admission or a note without advice can make things worse. Do not contact coworkers or managers to explain or to arrange a private deal; let counsel handle communication. Keep your own pay records, messages, and policy documents you received, but do not take company files.
Criminal case and job consequences
If charges are filed, the case usually starts with an arrest or a desk appearance ticket followed by arraignment, and felony-level charges can go to a grand jury. Your job, a professional license, unemployment benefits, and immigration status can all be affected, and those consequences should be reviewed before any plea is considered. A civil claim by the employer for repayment can run alongside the criminal case. In a first meeting we review what was said and signed, the evidence the employer appears to have, and whether early contact with the prosecutor makes sense. Whether the record can later be sealed may depend on how the case ends, which is another reason not to rush a resolution.
