What crime did Maria commit by depositing premium checks into her personal account?

In the scenario where Maria deposited premium checks intended for a business into her personal account, the most fitting crime she committed is fraud. Fraud involves deceitful practices for personal gain, and in this case, Maria's actions suggest that she misrepresented her intentions and the rightful receiver of the funds. By taking money that was meant for a company and placing it in her personal account, she likely intended to benefit herself financially at the expense of the rightful owner of the checks.

While embezzlement is also a possibility in this context, it typically involves the misappropriation of funds that one already has lawful access to, often in a fiduciary capacity. If Maria was acting as an agent of the business, depositing those checks directly into her own account would indeed suggest embezzlement. However, fraud more comprehensively encompasses the act of deceit itself, which is central to her wrongdoing, especially if she had no lawful claim to the checks.

Negligence as a choice implies a lack of care leading to unintentional harm, which does not align with the deliberate act of misappropriating money. Money laundering refers specifically to the process of making illegally obtained money appear legitimate, which is not the core issue here. Thus, fraud is the most appropriate