My question involves criminal law for the state of: West Virginia
I work for a retail company, I am currently the store manager, a while back I was looking to hire an employee but the paper work was moving slow. My boss told me it would be done any day so I allowed this person to work without receiving the paper work, paying them with cash outs with receipts under different reasons. When the paper work didn't go through I let them go and thought nothing of it. Until my boss asked me if I had hired someone without the proper paperwork. Now they are auditing my store and I am worried about the consequences of this. What are the consequences and what law did I actually break? I want it understood that I did this innocently with no malicious intent, I was under the impression the paper work would be done in a matter of days, this is very stressful and I truly need some advice.

