embezzled

Embezzled is the past tense and past participle of the verb embezzle, meaning to take or use money or property that has been entrusted to one's care for personal or unauthorized purposes. The term is commonly used in legal, financial, and journalistic contexts to describe misappropriation by someone in a position of trust, such as an employee, officer, trustee, or contractor.

In practice, embezzlement can involve manipulating records, creating fake vendors, skimming cash, payroll schemes, or transferring funds to personal accounts. The key elements usually include fiduciary trust, unlawful taking, intent to deprive the rightful owner, and lack of authorization or legal right to use the funds.

Legally, embezzlement is a criminal offense in many jurisdictions and is often charged as theft, fraud, or under a specific embezzlement statute. Penalties vary but commonly include imprisonment, fines, probation, and restitution to the victims or organizations.

Detection and prevention emphasize internal controls, separation of duties, audits, vendor verification, and robust accounting systems. Corporate governance and compliance programs aim to deter embezzlement by reducing opportunities and increasing the risk of detection.

Notable cases and public reporting often describe episodes where individuals with fiduciary access diverted funds or assets, leading to investigations, civil actions, and regulatory consequences.