Felony Theft Deportation Defense Attorney

Larceny – Crime of Moral Turpitude Defense Lawyer

At first glance, a theft or shoplifting charge may not be looked as serious.  Think again!  Firstly, in New York, there is no crime classified as “shoplifting” or “theft.”  If one is accused of shoplifting or theft it can fall under a range of crimes including but not limited to Petit larceny which is a misdemeanor or Grand Larceny which is a felony.

Petit larceny is a common misdemeanor charge and is defined as when someone “steals property” under § 155.25 of the NY Penal Law.  Theft of property that is less than $1,000 is Petit laceny which is a Class A misdemeanor.  This carries a penalty of up to one year in prison.  More notably however, is that Petit Larceny is considered a crime of moral turpitude.

If you are accused of shoplifting, you may be facing a petit larceny charge. Often, police officers will charge an individual with criminal possession of stolen property in addition to petit larceny in a shoplifting situation. If you are approached by store security, it is best to remain silent and not sign anything.   Avoid getting into a physical scuffle with store security as it’s not uncommon for the responding police officer to bump up your petit larceny to robbery.  Store security officers may claim that they have you on camera in an effort to get you to begin talking or sign documents.  They also could make you sign a confession.  You are NOT required to sign, and your appropriate course of action is to exercise your rights and request to speak to an attorney.

Grand Larceny and Deportation Defense Lawyer

Unlike its smaller sister, Petit Larceny, Grand Larceny is a felony in New York.  One may be guilty of grand larceny in several ways, and there are different degrees of grand larceny.  With regard to penalty, one can face from up to four to 25 years in prison for a Grand larceny charge depending on the degree.  While it is true that the Petit Larceny charge is more common in shoplifting situations, one could still be charged with Grand larceny charge if the value of the property allegedly stolen exceeds $1,000.  However, if one is accused of extortion, one could be facing this charge regardless of the value of the property.  Do not take this lightly since it may involve the charge being deemed as an aggravated felony!  If you have been charged with Grand larceny and are not a U.S. citizen, the Law Firm of Kyce Siddiqi will provide effective guidance and aggressively fight for your rights.

Immigration Attorney Kyce Siddiqi has long served as a criminal law educator teaching and mentoring defense attorneys, judges and prosecutors abroad on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.  He will consultations to explain to you the law and your options. Call (888) 915-7333 or (646) 930-4488.