Theft & White Collar Crime Defense

Theft and white collar charges carry consequences that extend far beyond the courtroom. A conviction — even for a misdemeanor — can destroy careers, professional licenses, and reputations built over a lifetime. Employers, licensing boards, and the public take theft and fraud allegations extremely seriously. That's why your defense needs to be equally serious from day one.

Minerva Defense brings meticulous preparation and aggressive advocacy to every theft and financial crime case. We understand the financial evidence, the investigative techniques, and the legal strategies needed to challenge these charges effectively.

Charges We Defend

• Retail Theft (Shoplifting) — Taking merchandise without paying, altering price tags, under-ringing items at self-checkout
• Felony Theft — Theft of property valued over $2,500 in Wisconsin (Class H–G Felony)
• Theft by Employee — Stealing from an employer, including cash, inventory, and proprietary information
• Embezzlement — Misappropriation of funds entrusted to your care in a professional capacity
• Fraud — Insurance fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, credit card fraud, loan fraud
• Forgery — Creating, altering, or using fraudulent documents (Class H Felony)
• Identity Theft — Using another person's identifying information for financial gain (Class H Felony)
• Receiving Stolen Property — Knowingly possessing property obtained through theft
• Check Fraud / Worthless Checks — Writing checks on insufficient funds or closed accounts
• Computer Crimes — Unauthorized access, data theft, cyber fraud

Wisconsin Theft Penalties

In Wisconsin, theft penalties are based primarily on the value of the property taken:

Value of Property	Classification	Potential Penalty
Up to $2,500	Class A Misdemeanor	Up to 9 months jail, $10,000 fine
$2,500 – $5,000	Class I Felony	Up to 3.5 years prison, $10,000 fine
$5,000 – $10,000	Class H Felony	Up to 6 years prison, $10,000 fine
$10,000 – $100,000	Class G Felony	Up to 10 years prison, $25,000 fine
Over $100,000	Class F Felony	Up to 12.5 years prison, $25,000 fine

Note: Penalties are enhanced for theft from vulnerable adults, theft by employees, and repeat offenders. Restitution is typically ordered in addition to fines.

Defense Strategies

Lack of Intent

Theft requires intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property. Honest mistakes, misunderstandings about ownership, and good-faith claims of right are valid defenses. We demonstrate that the evidence doesn't support a finding of criminal intent.

Challenging the Value

The classification of a theft charge — misdemeanor vs. felony, and which class of felony — depends on the value of the property. We challenge inflated valuations, question appraisal methods, and fight to ensure you're not overcharged.

Constitutional Violations

In white collar investigations, law enforcement sometimes overreaches — conducting searches without proper warrants, seizing records beyond the scope of a warrant, or obtaining statements without Miranda warnings. We scrutinize every step of the investigation.

Forensic Accounting Challenges

In embezzlement and fraud cases, the prosecution's case often relies on financial analysis. We work with forensic accounting experts to challenge their methodology, identify alternative explanations for financial discrepancies, and highlight gaps in their evidence.

Protecting Your Professional License

For professionals — doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants, real estate agents, and others — a theft conviction can trigger license revocation proceedings. We work to resolve cases in ways that minimize collateral consequences to your career and professional standing.

Diversion & Restitution

For first-time offenders and cases involving lower dollar amounts, we pursue deferred prosecution agreements, diversion programs, and restitution arrangements that can result in charges being dismissed entirely.