Crime & Safety
Laguna Beach Bookkeeper Accused Of Embezzling More Than $200K
A woman, who worked as a bookkeeper for a Laguna Beach business denied charges she embezzled $265,390 from her employer Thursday.
LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A 38-year-old woman pleaded not guilty Thursday to embezzling about $265,000 from a Laguna Beach business where she worked as a bookkeeper and office manager.
Nhora Johanna Tellez of Costa Mesa is charged with four counts of grand theft with sentencing enhancement allegations of property damage exceeding $200,000 and white-collar crime between $100,000 and $500,000, according to court records.
Tellez changed online login passwords and switched electronic notifications of the unspecified business to her email and then embezzled $265,390 from her employer, Laguna Beach police Detective Bryan Hotchkiss alleged in a motion to increase the defendant's bail.
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Tellez allegedly used the money to buy plane tickets, Disney passes and a Louis Vuitton designer bag, among other purchases, and to pay for veterinarian services, Hotchkiss said.
The alleged embezzlement dates back to July 2012 and continued through the end of 2013, according to court records.
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City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock
