---
title: "How long does the state have to charge me with embezzlement in Rhode Island?"
description: "Rhode Island has a 10-year statute of limitations on felony embezzlement under R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-12-17. The clock generally starts running when the offense is complete, which in a long-running..."
url: https://bankandmunns.com/faq-items/how-long-does-the-state-have-to-charge-me-with-embezzlement-in-rhode-island/
date: 2026-04-22
modified: 2026-04-22
author: "Bank and Munns"
type: avada_faq
lang: en
---

# How long does the state have to charge me with embezzlement in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island has a 10-year statute of limitations on felony embezzlement under R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-12-17. The clock generally starts running when the offense is complete, which in a long-running embezzlement scheme is usually the date of the last fraudulent transaction. Misdemeanor embezzlement has a shorter limitations period. There are tolling provisions for defendants who leave the state or conceal themselves, and the discovery rule can extend the window in some fiduciary cases. If the alleged conduct ended more than 10 years before charges were filed, a motion to dismiss on statute of limitations grounds is often the first filing. A **Rhode Island embezzlement lawyer** will examine every transaction date on the indictment, because even pulling a few old counts off the charge sheet can drop the total loss below a felony tier and change the case.