A Camarillo woman, Neydi Garcia, was sentenced to over four years in state prison after pleading guilty to multiple felonies including grand theft, identity theft, and filing a false tax return, as stated by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. Garcia, also known by the names Neydi Villegas and Neydi Alargunsoro, faced serious charges for embezzling more than $750,000 from her employer and committing identity theft to secure a mortgage. Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise, from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
In a report published by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, it was revealed that Garcia was hired as an office manager and bookkeeper in 2016. She was responsible for managing both the business and personal financial accounts of a victim who owned multiple businesses in Ventura County. Garcia was found to have executed unauthorized transactions, including lavish personal expenditures and cash theft, over the span of her employment. The discrepancies were initially noticed by the victim's CPA, which eventually led to Garcia's termination and a subsequent investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Major Fraud Unit.
"Despite having treated the defendant like a family member, the defendant stole from the victim hundreds of times," Mr. Wise said. "It reminds us that even trusted employees can abuse the confidence placed in them," according to a statement obtained by Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Garcia's indulgences with the stolen funds included vacations to various destinations, luxury goods, and covering personal expenses. The magnitude of her embezzlement and the betrayal of trust were significant factors in the case.
As part of her sentencing, Garcia was initially ordered to pay $750,000 in restitution but had already paid $300,000 between her guilty plea and the sentencing. Garcia was further ordered to pay an added $662,654 in restitution to the theft victim and $221,530 in additional restitution, interest, and penalties to the California Franchise Tax Board. These amounts reflect the financial damage wrought by Garcia's actions as well as the tax evasion associated with her crimes.
