Duo Accused of Embezzling From County Mosquito Control District Prepare For Trial

Trial dates were set Tuesday for two former San Mateo County employees who are accused of slurping hundreds of dollars from the department in charge of controlling mosquitos.

Defendants Jo Ann Dearman, aka Joanne Seeny, and Vika Sinipata, were charged with four counts of embezzling nearly half million dollars from the San Mateo County Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District, where Dearman worked as the financial director and Sinipata worked as her assistant.

Dearman, who has been arrested for similar occurrences, was hired by the district as Joanne Seeney. Over a two-year period, the suspects are accused of embezzling funds by giving themselves a higher pay rate, time off, and excessive contributions to deferred compensation funds.  They are also accused of using of credit cards for personal purchases.

The scheme was uncovered at a January board meeting when the district questioned an unexplained overpayment of $150,000 from a pesticide fund and got no answers.

Dearman, currently out on $250,000 bail is scheduled to be in court on April 29, while Sinipata, who remains in custody on $150,000 bail, will return to the court that day for sentencing.  Sinipatra pleaded no contest to 12 felony counts in February. 

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