[jc303]

Hi, I have not been charged with anything yet. The situation is while working for a former employer a gift card from a client of ours came into my possession that shouldn't have. The amount was for $500 and I gave it to my roommate as a gift. She knew that it was not mine and that I should return it, but persuaded me to allow her to use it. Now three months later after I am no longer working with my employer, we have received messages separately from my former employer saying that they have discovered that the gift card was used by a person and it was my roommate. We have only received messages of allegation thus far and neither of us have responded yet. I have made an appointment for free legal advice but cannot be accommodated until Monday.

My questions are:

1. How serious could the charges be separately to my roommate and I if we come forth and admit that we used the gift card?

2. Should I wait to speak to a lawyer before responding at all to the allegations? Even if that is three to four days from now?

3. Would it be best to speak to the client and try to return the items purchased and whatever further amount they would like to receive in compensation. I really don't want to involve my former employer if possible with any of these allegations.

I am worried that my roommate may crumble and speak to them today so any immediate advice I could receive would be much appreciated.

[excon]

Hello jc:

1) Serious. Any time you give people control over your lives, it's serious.

2) I don't know. What do they want? You didn't say. If you pay the money back, will they promise to not call the cops? If that's the kind of deal you can make, talk to them. If they just want you to incriminate yourself BEFORE they go to the cops, then NO, don't talk to them.

3) Don't want to involve your former employer?? I thought it was HIM that contacted you. Of course, your roommate will cave.

I think you should hire a criminal attorney TODAY.

excon

[jc303]

They haven't said what they wanted yet but that they wanted me to call them immediately to discuss the matter. My only response thus far is that I would speak to the roommate and then get back to them.

Thanks for the advice and I am contacting an attorney asap. My only worry is if I get an attorney before I speak to them, am I not already admitting my guilt?

If anybody else has any response it would be much appreciated.

[excon]

am I not already admitting my guilt?

Hello again, jc:

Uhhh, you ARE guilty, Dude. You're not trying to declare your innocence by hiring a lawyer. You're hiring him to get you OUT of trouble - very possibly before charges are levied.

Besides that, to whom would you be admitting your guilt to? Your former employer?? He already knows you did it. The cops? They're going to think you did it because that's what cops think. The lawyer? He doesn't care. Your roommate? He knows you stole the card.

excon

PS> Is the above logic the same you would use to let a cop search you?? Because if you told him no, he'd for sure know you had something?? Dude!

[jc303]

Ok, thanks for the frank advice. I am just not familiar in legal matters.

So you are advising then that I have no contact with them at all until I speak to a lawyer?

Should I tell my former employer that directly or just not respond at all until then?