Under Texas law, using someone else’s debit card and PIN without permission is a distinct felony called credit card or debit card abuse, and when the person doing it is a trusted money manager entrusted with a client’s accounts, the breach of that trust makes the case far more serious. That principle frames a striking case out of California, where a former account manager at a Beverly Hills business-management firm that serves high-profile entertainment clients was indicted for allegedly draining more than $2 million from a longtime celebrity client’s accounts.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Frank Musoke, 38, formerly of Woodland Hills, faces an eight-count federal indictment charging five counts of wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion. Prosecutors say Musoke managed the finances of high-net-worth entertainment clients and, from December 2019 to June 2023, used a longtime client’s debit cards and PINs without consent to take more than $2 million, then failed to report the stolen income on his tax returns. He is believed to have fled to Uganda, where he holds dual citizenship. While this case is federal, the alleged conduct maps directly onto several Texas statutes, and L & L Law Group, PLLC explains how a defendant in Frisco or the wider DFW area would face these allegations. An indictment is only an accusation, and Musoke is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What Was the Beverly Hills Embezzlement Scheme?
The alleged scheme was a trusted insider quietly draining a client’s accounts over several years. Prosecutors say Musoke worked as an account manager at a full-service Beverly Hills business-management and tax firm whose clients were primarily high-net-worth celebrities, and that he had full control over one client’s financial accounts, including debit cards. Court records describe roughly $1,733,688 taken through ATM withdrawals, $165,270 in Amazon purchases, $191,543 in personal travel, and more than $160,000 in other personal spending. The indictment also alleges he failed to report about $1.77 million in embezzled income on federal tax returns before the firm discovered the fraud and terminated him in July 2023.
How Would Texas Treat Unauthorized Use of a Client’s Debit Card?
In Texas, using another person’s debit card without their effective consent is prosecuted under Section 32.31 of the Penal Code, credit card or debit card abuse. The statute makes it a state jail felony to use a card knowing the use is unauthorized and with intent to fraudulently obtain a benefit, and it applies squarely to someone who possesses a client’s card in a professional capacity but uses it for personal gain. Because each unauthorized transaction can constitute a separate violation, a scheme spanning years and hundreds of withdrawals can generate substantial exposure, and the abuse of a fiduciary relationship makes the conduct especially aggravated in the eyes of a Texas court.
What Other Texas Charges Could Apply?
Beyond card abuse, a Texas prosecutor would likely add misapplication of fiduciary property under Section 32.45, which targets a person entrusted with someone else’s property, such as an account manager controlling a client’s funds, who deals with it in a way that creates a substantial risk of loss. Theft under Section 31.03, combined with the aggregation rule in Section 31.09, would let the state fold hundreds of separate withdrawals across several years into a single high-value felony based on the total taken. Because the money was allegedly hidden and unreported, related fraud and false-record theories could also come into play.
What Penalties Would a Frisco Defendant Face?
The exposure in a Texas courtroom would be significant. Aggregated theft or misapplication of fiduciary property involving $300,000 or more is a first-degree felony, carrying five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Debit card abuse is a state jail felony on its own, but when it is part of a larger theft it is the aggregated loss that drives the punishment range. A defendant in the Frisco area, in Collin County, could see card abuse, theft, and fiduciary-misapplication counts charged together, with full restitution to the victim a central issue, and Texas courts treat a lengthy abuse of professional trust as an aggravating factor at sentencing.
What Defenses Might Apply in a Texas Case?
A strong defense begins with consent and authorization, because both card abuse and theft require the state to prove the use was unauthorized and that the defendant intended to defraud. Defense counsel would examine whether any transactions were arguably approved under the manager’s discretion, whether the loss figure was accurately calculated and properly aggregated, and whether the paper trail truly ties each disputed charge to the defendant rather than to others with account access. Challenges to the reliability of the firm’s internal review, the completeness of financial records, and the accuracy of the claimed totals can all narrow exposure or support a negotiated resolution.
How L&L Law Group Can Help
Financial-abuse and embezzlement cases involve enormous volumes of records, overlapping state and federal exposure, and complex questions about consent and intent, which makes early legal guidance essential. L & L Law Group, PLLC represents clients across Frisco and the DFW area in card-abuse, theft, fiduciary, and white-collar matters, working to test the strength of the state’s intent evidence, challenge inflated loss calculations, and protect a client’s rights at every stage. If you or someone you know is facing an investigation or charges involving unauthorized account use or financial fraud, contact L & L Law Group, PLLC to discuss your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is using a client’s debit card without permission a felony in Texas? Yes. Under Section 32.31, using another person’s card knowing the use is unauthorized and intending to obtain a benefit is credit card or debit card abuse, a state jail felony, and when it is part of a larger theft the total loss drives the punishment.
Does a money manager face harsher treatment for stealing from a client? Yes. Misapplication of fiduciary property under Section 32.45 specifically targets people entrusted with others’ funds, and Texas courts treat the abuse of that professional trust as an aggravating factor.
Can years of small withdrawals be combined into one charge? Yes. Under Section 31.09, amounts taken through a continuing scheme can be aggregated, which can raise a series of withdrawals to a single first-degree felony when the total is large.
Reporting this commentary is based on:
FBI Los Angeles — Public notice on the charges against Frank Musoke
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