---
title: "What is the difference between embezzlement and larceny in Rhode Island?"
description: "Embezzlement and larceny are both theft crimes in Rhode Island, but they turn on how the accused got the property in the first place. Larceny is the wrongful taking of property the accused never had..."
url: https://bankandmunns.com/faq-items/what-is-the-difference-between-embezzlement-and-larceny-in-rhode-island/
date: 2026-04-22
modified: 2026-04-22
author: "Bank and Munns"
type: avada_faq
lang: en
---

# What is the difference between embezzlement and larceny in Rhode Island?

Embezzlement and larceny are both theft crimes in Rhode Island, but they turn on how the accused got the property in the first place. Larceny is the wrongful taking of property the accused never had any right to hold. A shoplifter, a purse-snatcher, and a car thief all commit larceny. Embezzlement is the fraudulent conversion of property the accused was lawfully entrusted with. A bookkeeper, a trustee, a nonprofit treasurer, and a property manager all start with legal authority over the money. The crime happens when they use that authority for a purpose the owner never approved. The distinction matters because defenses differ. In embezzlement cases, authorized use, apparent authority, and honest accounting mistakes are live defenses that do not exist in larceny. A **Rhode Island embezzlement lawyer** attacks the conversion and intent elements, not the taking, because the taking was lawful from day one.