returning property that somebody gave me?

Question

I worked with a co. that closed its office. They had burned many bridges, ect, ect....and gave employees their offices to take home(computer, office supplies). And it is a real estate co. so it includes "sensitive paperwork" as they called it.
They told me, good luck if you can make something outta this. As far as we heard everything was getting repo'd or something. The boss even took me down to where he was "hiding" his stuff, from the irs and the labor board, to give me a desk and chair also. he said "good luck". "take care".

it didnt work out, working from home, i was threatened twice by customers becasue of the position he put me in, and he stole money from ups letter on my desk that was supposed to come to me, and he cashed it but told me that he doesnt know where it went! the customer has the proof that he cashed it under one of his alias business names. SO i told them so and now they want "thier" stuff back. The stuff that they GAVE to me. They have called and left me snotty messages. one came to my house whuile i was gone and left some note about how i havr to return it to them or they will file a police report, and report me to the appropriate federal branch or something, for holding sensitive material.
i know before they closed the office, some girl came around and had us ALL fill out new w2 stuff and she told me to date it dec 1 2006 even though this was towards the end of january. it had a new business name. i dated it current and she brought me a new one to fill out. these people use all types of business names. the notice brought by my house, unnoterized, unsigned has one name they used. and the new w2 stuff had a different name on it. i didnt sign w2 under this name they are using to request thier stuff. i mention this becasue thier was some clause about having to return all office stuff under the OTHER name.
my husband and my new boss say not to worry about it since this notice came unnoterized and unsigned. And that i should not talk to them or respond to their harrasment.
what am i looking at? Can i get in trouble? i dont have a problem returning sensitive material, ie, all the files i have. possesion is 9/10s of the law. and they freakin gave the other stuff to me! Indiangivers.

Answer 1

"Things that were getting repo'd" indicates that they did not own what they gave you in the first place. Thus they acted illegally in hiding assets, and disposing illegally of them.
So.. they were acting criminally to begin with... dragged you into it and now the **** is flying. If they can show that you were aware of it being hidden, it is possible you can be charged with theft.
And you are hoping for them to start acting ethically in terms of what you were "given"?? I don't have a clue as to who you can return it to (and make sure there is a reliable record of it) but it sure would be a good idea.
One of life's hard lessons.

Answer 2

They obviously can't do a thing to you legally, because they are crooks. If things went to court, you might get fined, if you illegally accepted those things, but they would surely go to jail. So they have no interest at all in taking you to court. That's why they don't sign anything.