Nj.com reported on March 10, 2011 in “Former Bayonne bank manager’s embezzlement trial told $600,000 was skimmed as payback for salary cut, but his lawyer denies all charges” that the embezzlement trial of a former Bayonne Pamrapo Saving Bank manager accused of skimming over $600,000 in commissions from the bank’s investment services subsidiary started in federal court in early March 2011. A former management director of Pamrapo Service Corporation was charged with 33 counts of mail fraud for allegedly stealing commission checks and 4 counts of money laundering for using the money to pay American Express bills.

As the economy limps along, with natural disasters and violence affecting food and oil, many people get tempted into “stealing” from others. When accused of stealing, engage an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney to investigate.

As with the Bayonne bank case, stealing does not include simple overt acts such as taking money from a store or shoplifting candy from a mall. Stealing may be as sophisticated as tricking someone into making payments like commissions when there is no legal obligation to do so, or not paying someone earned income.

Be careful of being accused of stealing in everyday situations where money is tight. For example, when advertising a “paid” job, do not ask another to do work without intentions to pay. A person can save a lot of heartache from criminal prosecution by advertising a job as “nonpaid” when s/he does not have the funds to pay. When there is an oral and written agreement for someone to pay another for services, someone refusing to pay, hoping the other person would not seek a collections action for a small amount, may be engaging in conduct equivalent to theft. Most people know it is wrong to go to a restaurant to eat and run, but they may not think twice about turning a worker into free credit. If the job is advertised as “paid”, the person has to deal with false advertising. If the person knows another expects to be paid and does not work for free, the person has to deal with false pretenses. Work may be set up for determining someone’s job qualifications, but a person may end up accused of not only civil breach of contract, but a crime when s/he does not pay for benefits received from services provided.

In troubling financial times in New Jersey, do not value a reputation to being worth the lowly amount of any stolen item. Not paying what is promised confirms suspicions on financial fraud, and leads to criminal liabilities.

When faced with criminal charges for stealing, look to an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney for advice on how to maintain integrity.