Criminal Defense Law Firm in Washington D.C. | Successful Defense in a Corporate Embezzlement Allegation

The company reported suspected financial misconduct involving improper vendor payments. 

A former employee accused multiple managers, including the client, of knowingly permitting false invoices totaling several million dollars.

The allegation relied solely on assumption—claiming the client “should have been aware” of the transactions because of his corporate title.

However, the client operated exclusively within technical oversight and had no authority over budgeting, vendor payments, or corporate expenditures. 

The criminal defense law firm prioritized documenting his limited role, job duties, organizational hierarchy, and lack of access to financial systems.

The defense identified that the whistleblower’s statement contained factual errors regarding the client’s authority.

Key rebuttal points included:

• The client held a technical leadership position with no budgetary authority.

• He did not approve expenditures, contract payments, or reimbursement requests.

• Corporate bylaws and delegation of authority records confirmed he could not authorize funds.

This evidence rebutted the core assumption underlying the allegation: that a senior sounding title necessarily implied financial control.
 

The criminal defense law firm also emphasized the speculative nature of the accusation.

• The whistleblower had not mentioned the client in three years of prior internal reports.

• The sudden inclusion of the client appeared retaliatory or scattershot—an attempt to widen suspicion without factual basis.

• No emails, logs, financial records, or system data tied the client to the alleged transactions.

This analysis was delivered directly to investigators, demonstrating that the allegation lacked probable cause under D.C. charging standards.
 

The matter was classified as No Papered, meaning prosecutors declined to file charges. 

Important factors included:

• Clear organizational proof showing the client had no access to funds.

• Zero financial benefit or personal gain.

• Absence of intent under the requirements of D.C. Code § 22-3211.

• Demonstrated factual inaccuracies in the whistleblower’s claims.
 

The result protected the client from felony exposure, reputational damage, and employment consequences.

• White collar cases often rely heavily on documentation and job duty analysis.

• Misunderstandings about authority or access can easily lead to wrongful suspicion.

• Immediate legal action can prevent probable-cause findings or arrest warrants.

Individuals facing internal accusations, subpoenas, or investigative outreach should consult defense counsel immediately to avoid unnecessary escalation.