Appropriation or Theft of Lost Property

It takes dedication and skill to defend clients accused of theft of lost property crimes such as:

• Extortion, which occurs when threats or force is used by one person to obtain something from another person. You could face up to seven years in prison if you are convicted of first-degree coercion.
• Embezzlement, which typically occurs in business. This involves stealing assets or funds that were entrusted to you by your employer or the company you own. Embezzlement comes with varying penalties based on the amount of money that you are accused of stealing. The maximum penalty in New York is 25 years in prison.
• Petit larceny is theft of property that is valued at less than $1,000, and comes with a prison sentence of up to one year.
• Grand larceny in New York involves theft of property that is valued at $1,000 or more. There are different degrees of larceny charges that come with penalties between four and 25 years in prison.

Expanded Definitions of Committing Larceny in New York

The courts and state legislature have expanded the definition of what is considered property to include real property, computer data, computer programs or anything of substance and significant value. The accepted market value at the time of the criminal act of theft determines the value of the stolen property. Also considered in the property value is the cost to replace it.

In New York, there are eight recognized methods of committing larceny. The first two are common law larceny by trespassory taking or by trick. Embezzlement and using false pretenses to obtain property are the next two defined in the statutes. Historically, these are the most common recognized forms of larceny.

Four variations define the final four methods. One is larceny by appropriating lost property. The last three are issuing a bad check, making a false promise and extortion. These represent up-to-date derivatives of committing larceny.