Irvine, Orange County - An Irvine area woman has been arrested on embezzlement, grand theft and forgery charges after allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from her employer.
The woman, 45-year-old Deborah Lynn Kessler, was a dental office manager for an Irvine dentist and investigators believe over the course of three years she signed insurance payments to pay for RVs, boats and vacations. The Orange County Sheriff's Department tells reporters a number of checks made from insurance companies like Aetna and Delta Dental were discovered missing during an audit and sheriff investigators believe Kessler changed the checks, endorsed them, and handed them over to her own accounts.
Irvine embezzlement attorney Michael L. Guisti explains that embezzlement is when you unlawfully take something that was entrusted to you, and in this case insurance checks for thousands of dollars were entrusted to the suspect to put into the proper bank account, which Kessler allegedly didn't do and instead allegedly signing the checks over to herself.
Now, Irvine Attorney Guisti explains, embezzlement is no longer a crime in and of itself, but now it falls under theft crimes, which is why the suspect is being charged with grand theft and forgery.
Irvine white collar criminal lawyer Guisti explains the grand theft is taking one's property that is value over $950 and can be charged either as a felony or misdemeanor, but given the amount allegedly taken this will likely be tried as a felony.
Depending how often the suspect allegedly signed over the checks, according to Guisti, the Orange County District Attorney could try to charge each of those deposits as separate grand theft cases rather than consolidate them into one case. This is why, Guisti stresses, it's always important to have an attorney who can work something out with the DA, otherwise this could result in several years in jail.
Since the alleged stolen checks amount over $65,000 the suspect could face an additional and consecutive state prison sentence of one year, according to Guisti.
As to the charge of forgery, Irvine criminal defense attorney Guisti explains that when you knowingly alter a written document intending to commit a fraud, which could be charged either as a felony or misdemeanor.
Irvine embezzlement Guisti stresses the importance of hiring a professional criminal defense lawyer in a situation like this, because without a lawyer by your side you could end up in prison for many years.
If you or somebody you know are facing similar charges call the Law Offices of Michael L. Guisti right now at 714-530-9690 and let us take care of it.
