Virginia Theft Lawyers

We know that sometimes people think that they should just plead guilty to get this charge over and done with, but we hope you don’t think like this. Having a lawyer by your side is invaluable and we want you to understand the value of that. We are diligent about providing you with the help that you need after your charge so you don’t have to wonder about what you might have done wrong. Once you get convicted and you face these consequences, you can’t undo that.

Get in touch with us right away. We will set up a consultation with you in which you can learn what our Virginia theft lawyers can do for you and what we have done for many people before you in the same sticky situation. We want you to know that you don’t have to lay down to the law and let them ruin your life, if it is avoidable.

If you were in dire straits, made a mistake and now are going to have to suffer even more because of stuffed charges, then we want you to reach out to us as soon as you can. If you were caught up in something and didn’t feel like you could say no to doing something foolish but now you have to face something that could change your life forever, we want you to reach out to us so we can help you through this. No matter why you need our help, you should reach out to us to see what we can do for you when you are up against theft charges. Our Virginia theft lawyers are here to help you like we’ve helped many people before you get their charges reduced or dismissed.

How These Cases Work

It’s common to wonder and worry about what’s going to happen next if you have been charged with a theft crime, especially if you’ve never gone through this before. Having handled thousands of criminal cases in all the courts of Virginia, we understand how critical your job and/or your security clearance are to your livelihood and your family. Theft crimes are considered “Crimes of Moral Turpitude.” These are crimes that involve lying, cheating, or stealing. Because of this, if you are convicted of a theft crime, you are facing not only significant jail time and a substantial fine, but also a permanent criminal record with the FBI and Homeland Security. You could potentially lose your job, your security clearance, future employment opportunities, and your future. That’s something that’s terrifying for our clients and we’re sure you’re worried about this, too. Don’t lay down to the law. Fight back with the help of our Virginia theft lawyers.

There are a number of theft related crimes that you may be charged with, including but not limited to:

• Petit Larceny
• Grand Larceny
• Embezzlement
• Credit Card Theft
• Obtaining Money by False Pretenses
• Credit Card Fraud (For Petit or Grand Larceny)

In order for the Commonwealth of Virginia to prove the charge of embezzlement, they must prove:

1. That you wrongfully and fraudulently took property; and
2. That the property taken was by virtue of your employment.

In order for the Commonwealth of Virginia to prove the charge of credit card theft, they must prove:

That you either:

1. Took, obtained, or withheld a credit card from the person, possession, custody, or control, of another; or
2. That you received a credit card from another knowing that it had been taken, obtained, or withheld from the person, possession, custody, or control, of another; and
3. That the taking, obtaining, or withholding was without the consent of the cardholder; and
4. That the taking, obtaining, or withholding was with intent to use it, sell it, or to transfer it to a person other than the issuer or cardholder.

In order for the Commonwealth of Virginia to prove the charge of obtaining money by false pretense, they must prove:

1. That you made a false representation of a past event or existing fact; and
2. That when the false representation was made, you had an intent to defraud another; and
3. That because of the false representation, you obtained money, property, or a gift certificate from another.

In order for the Commonwealth to prove the charge of credit card fraud, they must prove:

That either:

1. You took, obtained, or withheld, a credit card from the person, possession, custody, or control of another; or
2. You received a credit card from another knowing that it had been taken, obtained, or withheld from the person, possession, custody, or control of another; or
3. You received a credit card knowing the same to have been lost, mislaid, or delivered under a mistake as to the identity/address of the cardholder, and you retained possession; and
4. That the taking, obtaining, withholding, retaining, or receiving of the credit card was with the intent to use it, sell it, or transfer it to a person other than the cardholder; and
5. That you used the credit card for the purpose of obtaining money, goods, services or anything else of value; and
6. That you used the credit card with the intent to defraud any person.

If you are found guilty of any theft crime, the punishment can be very severe. Embezzlement and obtaining money by false pretenses are felonies, punishable by up to 20 years in jail, if the value of the property obtained is $500 or more. Credit card theft is a felony, punishable by up to 20 years in jail. Credit card fraud is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in jail, if the value of the property obtained is $500 or more.

If the value of the property is less than $500, then charges of embezzlement, obtaining money by false pretenses, and credit card fraud are class 1 misdemeanors, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500, or both.

In addition to the significant discovery, due diligence, and legal work we do to get your theft crime charges dismissed, your participation in appropriate programs and classes prior to court can significantly increase your odds of an even more successful outcome. These programs and classes can include:

• Volunteer Community Service
• Anti-Shoplifting Classes
• Alternative to Jail Programs
• Letters of Recommendation

Our Virginia theft lawyers have experience successfully handling theft crimes in all the courts of Virginia, so let us help you.

We Promise Three Things to You

1. When you call us, you will always speak personally with one of our experienced and successful attorneys about your case, not a paralegal or secretary.
2. We always design a customized “Plan of Action” just for your case and will never use a cookie-cutter template.
3. We always provide you with a personalized “Payment Plan” to meet your financial needs.

Not every lawyer is going to treat you like a priority. We want you to know that we are different and we care about you as a person who is in need of help during a very difficult time. We will treat you as more than a case number. You deserve that as a bare minimum. We will go above and beyond to utilize our resources and ensure you are getting the best representation from us that is possible for us to give.

Call Our Virginia Theft Lawyers Today

If you have been charged with theft, and you are concerned that you are going to have a conviction that ruins your life, please call our Virginia theft lawyers today. We want to help you fight back against these charges and provide you with the fierce representation you need. Let us help you get your charges reduced or dismissed. Call today to learn more.