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Is It a Crime to Use Public Equipment, Staff, or Funds for a Private Purpose?

By Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney on July 15, 2026

Public employees and government officials may have access to vehicles, office equipment, facilities, personnel, and taxpayer-funded resources as part of their jobs. While these resources are intended to help serve the public, some people assume they can occasionally be used for personal or charitable purposes without consequences.

For example, what if a city employee uses a government truck to help a family member move? What if a supervisor asks public employees to volunteer during work hours for a nonprofit event? What if a government-owned conference room is used for a private fundraiser? Or what if public funds are used to purchase supplies for a community organization without proper authorization?

These situations can trigger serious legal consequences. Allegations involving the misuse of government resources may be investigated by ethics commissions, internal auditors, inspectors general, district attorneys, state attorneys general, and federal prosecutors.

Depending on the circumstances, what begins as an internal policy violation can escalate into criminal allegations involving fraud, embezzlement, or public corruption.

The Los Angeles misappropriation of public funds attorneys at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP know how to challenge government investigations and protect the rights of individuals who have been accused of serious financial crimes.

What Is Considered Misuse of Government Resources?

The misuse of government resources occurs when taxpayer-funded property, equipment, personnel, facilities, or money are used for unauthorized personal, political, commercial, or private purposes.

Examples may include:

• Using government vehicles for personal errands
• Directing employees to perform personal tasks during work hours
• Using government computers or office equipment for private business
• Lending public equipment to friends or family members
• Allowing nonprofit organizations to use government facilities without authorization
• Using agency credit cards for personal expenses
• Purchasing items unrelated to official government business
• Diverting taxpayer-funded supplies for private use

When Does a Policy Violation Become a Crime?

Government agencies have internal policies governing the use of public resources. Violating these policies may initially lead to administrative consequences such as employee discipline, written reprimands, suspension, or termination. The alleged misconduct can also trigger ethics investigations that lead to more serious legal scrutiny.

Prosecutors may become involved when they believe the conduct includes criminal intent, deception, personal financial benefit, abuse of authority, or fraud.

Investigators may consider these factors:

• Whether the individual knowingly violated the law
• Whether public money was intentionally diverted
• The value of the property or funds involved
• Whether false records were created
• Whether public employees were directed to perform unauthorized work
• Whether taxpayers suffered financial loss
• Whether there was an effort to conceal the conduct

Examples of Misuse of Government Property

Allegations of government property misuse can arise in many different situations.

Unauthorized Use of Government Vehicles

Using publicly owned vehicles for vacations, family transportation, or unrelated personal errands may violate agency rules and, in some circumstances, criminal statutes.

Personal Use of Government Employees

Directing government staff to perform household chores, political campaign work, moving assistance, or private business activities during paid work hours may trigger allegations of public employee misconduct.

Improper Use of Public Equipment

Government-owned computers, tools, construction equipment, printers, machinery, or office supplies generally must be used only for authorized governmental purposes.

Use of Public Facilities

Allowing private organizations or businesses to use government-owned buildings without proper authorization may create questions regarding favoritism, misuse of taxpayer assets, or improper gifts of public funds.

What Is Misuse of Public Funds?

Among the most serious allegations that a public official can face is misuse of public funds. Public funds generally include taxpayer money, grants, agency budgets, reimbursement accounts, procurement funds, and other government-controlled financial resources.

Because these cases often involve financial records and accounting documents, investigators may spend months or even years building evidence before filing charges.

Investigations may involve allegations such as:

• Unauthorized expenditures
• Improper reimbursements
• False invoices
• Fraudulent expense reports
• Payroll fraud
• Grant fund diversion
• Unauthorized contracts
• Improper procurement practices
• Personal purchases using agency accounts

Who Investigates Government Ethics Violations?

Investigations involving government ethics violations may involve numerous agencies working together.

Depending on the circumstances, investigators may include:

• Local district attorneys
• California Attorney General
• FBI
• United States Attorney’s Office
• Office of Inspector General
• State auditors
• Internal affairs investigators
• Ethics commissions
• Government compliance offices

Criminal Charges That May Be Filed

Prosecutors may file charges involving:

• Misappropriation of public funds
• Embezzlement
• Fraud
• False claims
• Bribery
• Public corruption
• Conspiracy
• Forgery
• Falsification of public records
• Theft of government property

Convictions may carry significant prison sentences, fines, restitution orders, and the permanent loss of professional opportunities. Federal prosecutors may pursue charges if federal grant money or federally funded programs are involved.

Effective Legal Defenses Against Allegations of Public Corruption

An experienced attorney will carefully analyze every aspect of the government’s case before determining the most effective defense strategy.

Potential defenses may include:

• Lack of Criminal Intent. Many employees misunderstand agency policies or rely on long-standing workplace practices they reasonably believed were authorized.
• Authorized Use. Government resources may have been used with supervisory approval or pursuant to agency policy.
• Administrative Error. Accounting mistakes, bookkeeping errors, or clerical oversights are not necessarily criminal conduct.
• No Personal Benefit. Some investigations involve charitable or community-oriented activities where the accused received no financial gain.
• Insufficient Evidence. The prosecution bears the burden of proving criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt.

Speak With a Trusted Misappropriation of Public Funds Attorney in Los Angeles

At Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, our attorneys include former federal prosecutors and former Deputy District Attorneys with decades of experience handling complex criminal investigations. We defend public employees, government officials, contractors, and professionals who are facing state and federal investigations.

When you hire our firm, you benefit from the collective knowledge and strategic insight of an entire team dedicated to protecting your rights. We offer free consultations and we provide aggressive representation from the earliest stages of an investigation through trial when necessary.

Call (213) 688-0460 to learn more today.

FAQs About Using Public Equipment, Staff, or Funds for a Private Purpose

Is it illegal to use government equipment for personal purposes?

While minor personal use may be permitted under some agency policies, unauthorized use of government-owned vehicles, computers, tools, or other equipment for private purposes may result in disciplinary action, ethics investigations, or criminal charges if prosecutors believe the conduct involved fraud, theft, or the misuse of government resources.

What is considered misuse of government resources?

Misuse of government resources generally refers to using taxpayer-funded property, equipment, personnel, facilities, or public funds for unauthorized personal, political, or commercial purposes. Examples include directing public employees to perform personal tasks, using government vehicles for private errands, or spending public money on unauthorized expenses.

Can public employees face criminal charges for misuse of government property?

Yes. Depending on the circumstances, allegations of government property misuse may lead to criminal charges if investigators believe the conduct was intentional, involved deception, or resulted in the improper use of taxpayer-funded assets. Charges may include fraud, embezzlement, theft of public funds, or other public corruption offenses.

What should I do if I am being investigated for public employee misconduct?

If you learn that you are under investigation, avoid discussing the allegations with investigators or coworkers before consulting an attorney. Administrative investigations can quickly become criminal cases, and statements made early in the process may later be used against you.