When a person is accused of a crime, he or she likely faces multiple decisions that will need to be made with care. Despite the potential impact of the choices made, most people in Texas feel unprepared to make the necessary decisions and, in some cases, are unaware of all of the options. Some people may ultimately choose to plead guilty, especially in cases involving accusations of white collar crimes such as fraud and identity theft, based only on the fact that there may be sufficient evidence for a conviction, not their guilt or innocence.
For example, one woman recently pleaded guilty to charges stemming from her time as an employee at Stone Care of Texas. Reports indicate that she is accused of stealing over $470,000 from the company from May 2016 to Sept. 2018. She remains out on bond pending her sentencing.
Reports claim that the theft involved company credit cards in the names of former employees. The credit cards were intended to be used for expenses related to travel. However, authorities say that she used the cards to make cash withdrawals and purchases for personal use.
As a result of the identify theft and fraud charges the woman pleaded guilty to, she could spend over 20 years in prison. In addition, she will likely be required to pay restitution to the company. Because of the complicated nature of cases involving white collar crime allegations, many in Texas ask a criminal defense attorney with experience with such cases to carefully review the evidence against them and advise them in their options and the outcomes of each, ensuring that they are fully equipped to make informed decisions in their own best interest.