How Embezzlement Is Charged in Wyoming
There is no separate embezzlement law in Wyoming; instead, embezzlement is charged under the general theft law. Stat. § 6-3-402 based on how much the property was worth when it was taken. The difference between embezzlement and other types of theft is the relationship: you had the property legally because you were in a position of trust before you allegedly took it. This means that the prosecution has to prove both that the person stole money and that they broke their duty of care.
Investigations into embezzlement usually start long before anyone is arrested. Employers do internal audits, forensic accountants look over transaction records, and by the time the police get involved, the prosecution may have months of financial records. One of the most important things you can do if you know or think you are being investigated is to hire a lawyer before charges are brought against you.
Penalties for Embezzlement in Wyoming
The penalties for embezzlement depend on how much property was stolen. If the amount is small, you can be charged with a misdemeanor. Larger amounts, especially those over felony thresholds, can get you up to ten years in state prison. In addition to jail time, restitution is almost always ordered, which means paying back the full amount that was allegedly stolen. In any licensed field, a conviction for embezzlement often means losing your professional license.
How We Defend Embezzlement Charges in Wyoming
The first step in defending against embezzlement is to look at the financial records. We hire forensic accountants to look at the prosecution’s accounting, find other reasons for financial activity, and point out mistakes in the way the alleged loss was calculated or the way the investigation was done. The most important thing is intent. Did you intentionally take something that wasn’t yours, or was there an accounting mistake, a disagreement over authorization, or someone else’s actions that explain what the records show?
Penalty Grid
| Felony Threshold | Prison | Restitution | License |
| Value-dependent | Up to 10 years | Full amount | Likely revoked |
Related Charges We Also Defend
Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law
Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.
We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.
We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.
Servicios de traduccion en espanol disponibles. Every client fully understands their case, their options, and their rights.
Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients
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OtherSuppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme CourtDistrict Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.
Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court
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CASE DISMISSEDReckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming
Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.
State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDDUI / DWUI — Wyoming
Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.
State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDFelony Child Abuse — Wyoming
Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.
State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court
Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.
The sooner you have an attorney, the more options you have.
What Clients Say About Just Criminal Law
Frequently asked questions about embezzlement in Wyoming
Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve
We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.
- Deadwood
- Sturgis (Rally)
- Custer County
- Lawrence County
- Meade County
- Pennington County
We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.
