Michigan Laws 750.181 – Embezzlement of property belonging to person and part owner; violation; penalty; enhanced sentence based on prior convictions
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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(1) An agent, servant, employee, trustee, bailee, custodian, attorney-at-law, collector, or other person who receives or collects in any manner money or other personal property that is partly the property of another person, governmental entity within this state, or other legal entity and partly the property of the agent, servant, employee, trustee, bailee, custodian, attorney-at-law, collector, or other person shall not embezzle, fraudulently dispose of, convert to his or her own use, or take or secrete with intent to embezzle or convert to his or her own use the money or personal property without the consent of the part owner of the money or personal property.
(2) If the money or personal property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted has a value of less than $200.00, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00 or 3 times the value of the money or property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine.
For details, see Mich. Comp. Laws ch. 777 pt. 2
Attorney's Note
Under the Michigan Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| D | up to 10 years |
Terms Used In Michigan Laws 750.181
- Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- felony: when used in this act, shall be construed to mean an offense for which the offender, on conviction may be punished by death, or by imprisonment in state prison. See Michigan Laws 750.7
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals. See Michigan Laws 8.3l
- Personal property: All property that is not real property.
- Presentence report: A report prepared by a court's probation officer, after a person has been convicted of an offense, summarizing for the court the background information needed to determine the appropriate sentence. Source: U.S. Courts
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
- Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
(3) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $2,000.00 or 3 times the value of the money or property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine:
(a) The money or personal property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted has a value of $200.00 or more but less than $1,000.00.
(b) The person violates subsection (2) and has 1 or more prior convictions for committing or attempting to commit an offense under this section or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this section.
(4) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or 3 times the value of the money or property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine:
(a) The money or personal property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted has a value of $1,000.00 or more but less than $20,000.00.
(b) The person violates subsection (3)(a) and has 1 or more prior convictions for committing or attempting to commit an offense under this section. For purposes of this subdivision, however, a prior conviction does not include a conviction for a violation or attempted violation of subsection (2) or (3)(b).
(5) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $15,000.00 or 3 times the value of the money or property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine:
(a) The money or personal property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted has a value of $20,000.00 or more.
(b) The person violates subsection (4)(a) and has 2 or more prior convictions for committing or attempting to commit an offense under this section. For purposes of this subdivision, however, a prior conviction does not include a conviction for a violation or attempted violation of subsection (2) or (3)(b).
(6) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the values of money or property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted in separate incidents pursuant to a scheme or course of conduct within any 12-month period may be aggregated to determine the total value of money or personal property embezzled, disposed of, converted, taken, or secreted. If the scheme or course of conduct is directed against only 1 person, governmental entity within this state, or other legal entity, no time limit applies to aggregation under this subsection.
(7) If the prosecuting attorney intends to seek an enhanced sentence based upon the defendant having 1 or more prior convictions, the prosecuting attorney shall include on the complaint and information a statement listing the prior conviction or convictions. The existence of the defendant’s prior conviction or convictions shall be determined by the court, without a jury, at sentencing or at a separate hearing for that purpose before sentencing. The existence of a prior conviction may be established by any evidence relevant for that purpose, including, but not limited to, 1 or more of the following:
(a) A copy of the judgment of conviction.
(b) A transcript of a prior trial, plea-taking, or sentencing.
(c) Information contained in a presentence report.
(d) The defendant’s statement.
(8) In a prosecution under this section, it is not a defense that the agent, servant, employee, trustee, bailee, custodian, attorney-at-law, collector, or other person was entitled to a compensation out of the money or personal property as compensation for collecting or receiving it for its owner, but it is not embezzlement by the agent, servant, employee, trustee, bailee, custodian, attorney-at-law, collector, or other person to retain his or her reasonable collection fee on the collection or any other valid interest he or she has in the money or personal property.
(9) In a prosecution under this section, the failure, neglect, or refusal of the agent, servant, employee, trustee, bailee, custodian, attorney-at-law, collector, or other person to pay, deliver, or refund to the proper person the money or personal property entrusted to his or her care, upon demand, is prima facie proof of intent to embezzle.
(10) If the sentence for a conviction under this section is enhanced by 1 or more prior convictions, those prior convictions shall not be used to further enhance the sentence for the conviction pursuant to section 10, 11, or 12 of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.10, 769.11, and 769.12.