On August 8th of 2012, 50-year-old Lili Clay, controller at Lencioni Construction in Redwood City, literally fled the scene when confronted by company owners regarding $350,000 in missing funds. On September 13th, Clay pleaded not guilty to charges of embezzlement.
On August 31st, news reports revealed that Clay waived a preliminary hearing on the evidence, and instead entered a Superior Court plea to charges or grand theft, felony embezzlement and the allegation of excessive taking. She worked as controller for the construction company from January of 2011 until August 2012. According to prosecutors, Clay allegedly wrote $350,000 in company checks to herself and attempted to cover up using the guise of reimbursements.
After owners confronted Clay on August 8th, she allegedly ran as the owners pursued her; Clay was able to make it to her vehicle and escape before they grabbed her. Authorities apprehended her weeks later near Visalia in Exeter, California. Clay has been held in a San Mateo County jail since she was apprehended in lieu of $350,000 bail.
San Mateo County chief deputy district attorney Karen Guidotti stated that Clay began issuing refund checks to herself in January of 2011. Clay’s trial date is currently set at January 14, 2013; she is scheduled to go before a judge on November 13th.
San Mateo criminal defense attorneys understand the serious penalties individuals convicted on charges of embezzlement face. Not only may you face substantial fines and time behind bars, a conviction could potentially cost you your career and reputation. A skilled, aggressive attorney may be capable of devising an effective defense strategy to protect you from the harsh penalties, or to have charges reduced so that the negative impact to your life is lessened.
If you have been arrested for embezzling or any white collar criminal offense, consult with a capable San Mateo embezzlement lawyer at once so that steps can be taken to protect your legal rights.
