$256K Stolen By Employee Of Windsor Assisted Living Facility, Authorities Allege

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- A Sebastopol woman is facing charges of grand theft and identity theft following an investigation that allegedly revealed she stole more than $256,000 while she worked as the payroll clerk at a Windsor assisted living facility, officials with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

Frances Louise Farias, 59, was arrested July 25 when Sonoma County sheriff's detectives served a $2 million warrant at her Sebastopol home. She remains jailed on allegations that over the course of three years, she created and used 10 fictitious employee accounts to funnel paychecks from Oakmont Senior Living to bank accounts registered in her name, sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

According to Crum, detectives began investigating Farias Jan. 13 when management of the care home on Old Redwood Highway contacted the sheriff's office. Farias' employment with the company had ended in May 2016, and when a new payroll clerk was hired, she noticed accounting irregularities which triggered the initial investigation, Crum said.

"A lengthy forensic audit was then conducted of Oakmont’s accounts," Crum said. "Detectives determined ... that she set up 10 fictitious employee accounts created for the company over the last three years. The payroll accounts comprised of contractor employees who had done work for the company along with completely fictitious employees."

According to Crum, the employee accounts in question were directed to bank accounts owned by Farias at four different online banking institutions.

"Oakmont had been paying these fictitious employees paychecks over the course of the last three years," Crum said. "The total loss accumulated over the three years is in excess of $256,000."

Further evidence of Farias' alleged crimes was found when detectives served the warrant at her home, and she was arrested on suspicion on seven felony charges, the sergeant said.

"She is also being investigated for several other fraudulent schemes as well that may result in further criminal charges," Crum said.

Farias is being held at the main Sonoma County Jail. After a court hearing Tuesday, a judge reduced her bail to $100,000, the sergeant said.

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