Most corporate theft is committed by trusted employees—people who have worked for a company for so long that they are considered family by coworkers and employers. Their close relationship and trust let them steal undetected, sometimes for years. Only when something unusual happens—maybe the trusted employee goes on medical leave or vacation and another employee steps in—do irregularities surface. Forged checks… Unauthorized credit card charges… Phony invoices… Checks to unknown vendors that turn out to be DBA’s of the trusted employee… It can be a shattering discovery for a company.
What Do We Do If We Discover Fraud or Theft?
You are probably already asking the right questions: “How long has this been going on?” “How many people are involved?” “Can the money be recovered?”
Getting answers can be a challenge. Federal agencies, including the FBI, won’t investigate company theft unless it involves a clear federal issue. The financial crimes divisions of the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office focus mostly on personal credit/debit card abuse, check forgery, and identity theft. The best option is the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Special Crimes Bureau – Major Fraud Division, which conducts corporate investigations. However, it has a small team and limited resources; a single case can take many, many months.
Brian Roberts can help you investigate, package, and present your allegations to the Harris County DA’s Major Fraud Division to get their process moving more quickly toward a formal investigation and prosecution. Brian understands what fraud examiners and prosecutors need to put a case together. Engaging him can save you months of waiting.
Why Hire Brian Roberts To Investigate?
Be assured: criminal masterminds do not exist outside the movies. Corporate theft and fraud tend to follow predictable patterns, and most schemes are not unique. Investigating them does require reviewing numerous bank records and financial documents. Clear understanding and solid financial acumen are needed to interpret the records and determine who committed the crime and how. The right lawyer, with the right kind of experience, can make a difference.
As a prosecutor working for the Special Crimes Bureau – Major Fraud Division, Brian Roberts investigated and prosecuted many white-collar crimes such as stock fraud, embezzlement, employee theft, and misapplication of fiduciary property. He drafted numerous search warrants and coordinated investigations with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Texas Attorney General’s Office, and US Secret Service, to name a few. Brian is here to help you if your company falls victim to employee theft or fraud. Contact Roberts Criminal Law today at (713) 237-8888 to get your investigation started sooner—not later.