Fake Invoices And Felony Theft Charges In Texas

The owner of a business in North Texas is facing felony charges. The business owner was recently arrested at home in Denton County after a seizure of the man’s paperwork from the business’s former office. The theft in question occurred due to fake invoices that were written to American Eagle for nearly $10,000. Law enforcement reported that the man was involved in a number of claims. Felony theft is considered a serious crime in the state of Texas and can result in serious penalties as well substantial obstacles in one’s occupation.

Classifications of Felony Theft

There are several types of felony theft in the state of Texas. Theft of property worth below $2,500 in value is considered a misdemeanor, while anything over is almost always classified as a felony. In the case of false invoices, an individual could expect to face a felony classification based on the total amount of the false invoices. This felony category includes the following offenses:

  • Theft between $2,500 to $30,000 is classified as a state felony. These offenses result in fines of up to $1,500 and a maximum of two years in state jail.
  • Theft between $30,000 to $150,000 is classified as a third-degree felony. These felonies result in individuals facing substantial fines and up to 10 years in prison.
  • Theft between $150,000 to $300,000 is classified as a second-degree felony. These offenses result in large fines and jail sentences of up to 20 years.
  • Theft over $300,000 is classified as a first-degree felony. These felonies result in large fines and prison sentences of up to 99 years.

Other Kinds of Common Business Theft in Texas

False invoices are one of the most common types of business thefts in the state of Texas. Some of the other common types of business theft in Texas include:

  • Billing Schemes: Billing schemes are often used in the case of large theft. These schemes can include false invoices as well as personal purchases that are made through a company’s funds.
  • Check Tampering Schemes: Check tampering schemes frequently occur over an extended period of time. Checks are frequently forged in regards to authorization, signature, the payee, or the amount in question.
  • Reimbursement Schemes: Reimbursement schemes are a type of theft involving expense reimbursement. This theft can involve personal expenses characterized as business expenses, overstatements of the amount of expenses that are due, fabricated receipts, or multiple reimbursements for the same expense.
  • Payroll Schemes: Payroll Schemes that involve theft involving company payrolls. Some of the most common types of payroll theft include adding employees to payrolls that do not exists, overpayment of wages, and exaggerated sales.

Contact a Seasoned Denton Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are charged with felony theft, a skilled criminal defense attorney can prove vital in responding to these charges. Do not hesitate to contact the legal counsel at Wheeler Law Office LLC. Our office has helped many individuals faced with criminal defense charges obtain the best results possible.

(image courtesy of Fabian Blank)