State v. Ms. J (DMC No. 18120) – Felony Embezzlement/Fraudulent Schemes ($49,881), and Felony Theft – Reduced to Probation (with 15 Days in Jail) – Maricopa County Superior Court (Case No. CR2023-100577)
Mr. J had a tumultuous upbringing, which left her with various psychological issues. She was a Sexual Assault Victim while she was in high school, and she was then physically and emotionally abused during an eight-year relationship. After that, she had a serious back injury which resulted in surgery. After that surgery, she began taking various medications, and she also discovered gambling. Over the next several years, she became a gambling addict.
While she was working at a property management company as a Guest Service Agent, she was regularly exposed to large amounts of money. She eventually began Embezzling to cover for her gambling addiction, and took approximately $50,000 from the company. When it became apparent that she was headed down the wrong path, she resigned from that company. Approximately two years later, an audit was conducted and Detectives became involved. After she had received a letter from her former company, and she then hired a different law firm for the Pre-Charge Phase of her case. She was eventually Indicted, and terminated the services of the other law firm, and secured DM Cantor to represent her in the Charged Case.
Once we became involved, we put together the complete Mitigation Package regarding Ms. J. We listed all of the prior trauma she had gone through, and provided proof. When we finished the Settlement Conference Memorandum, the State agreed to a Plea of Probation with 60 days in Jail. We eventually had them agree to bring that down to only 15 days in Jail. At the Sentencing we presented all of the Mitigation, we also showed that she had filed a piece of paper which “Self Excluded” her from entering any Casinos for ten years. We also showed that she was currently in therapy, and she had not gambled for almost two full years. Partial Restitution was made at the Sentencing, which allowed Ms. J to rapidly and Successfully Complete Probation. She is now gambling free, and living a healthy and productive life.
