Camarillo Woman Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $750,000

By Redaccion
[email protected]

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Neydi Garcia (DOB 10/18/82), of Camarillo, was sentenced to 4 years 4 months state prison.

Garcia, also known as Neydi Villegas and Neydi Alargunsoro, previously pled guilty on May 26, 2023, to seven felony counts of grand theft from her employer, one felony count of identity theft, and one felony count of filing a false or fraudulent tax return. She admitted she stole more than $500,000. She also admitted several special allegations and aggravating factors, including that she took advantage of a position of trust, and carried out the crime with planning, sophistication, and professionalism.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.

“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.”

In October 2016, Garcia was hired as an office manager and bookkeeper for the victim who owned multiple companies throughout Ventura County. Garcia was hired to help manage the victim’s business and personal financial accounts. The victim’s certified public account noticed significant discrepancies in bank deposits handled by Garcia, and an investigation into the missing funds was launched in 2019. Garcia was terminated from employment in May 2019. After an extensive investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Major Fraud Unit, a warrant was issued for her arrest on October 18, 2020.

During the approximately three years Garcia worked for the victim, she embezzled approximately $750,000. This included unauthorized purchases on the victim’s business credit card. Garcia took her family on lavish vacations to Europe, Mexico, Nashville, and Las Vegas. She paid personal cell phone bills, bought jewelry, paid collection agencies, and purchased from high-end retailers including Gucci, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. She made unauthorized Automated Clearing House transactions to pay her mortgage and personal credit card bills. Garcia also stole cash from a business owned by the victim. Garcia did not report any of the money she stole from the victim on her California income taxes.

In addition to stealing from the first victim, in September 2018, Garcia contacted a co-worker regarding a short-term loan to qualify for a mortgage used to purchase a house. It was discovered Garcia used the co-worker’s information and signature to make false representations about Garcia’s credit worthiness. The co-worker did not give Garcia permission to utilize her name or information in the letter to the mortgage company.

Along with her prison sentence, restitution was initially determined to be $750,000. Garcia paid the victim back $300,000 between her guilty plea and sentencing. At sentencing, Garcia was ordered to pay an additional $662,654 restitution to the theft victim and $221,530 in restitution, interest and penalties to the California Franchise Tax Board.

Case: 2020010700

Defendant Information:

Neydi Garcia (DOB 10/18/82)
Camarillo                                                     

Charges pled guilty to:

(7 counts) PC 487(b)(3) – Grand theft
PC 530.5(c)(2) – Identity theft
RT 19706 – Filing a false or fraudulent return with intent to evade tax

Special Allegations:

PC 186.11(a)(2) – Excessive loss over $500,000
PC 1203.045(b) – Excessive loss over $100,000
CRC 4.421(a)(8) – The manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication, and professionalism
CRC 4.421(a)(9) – The crime involved an attempted and actual taking and damage of great monetary value
CRC 4.421(a)(11) – Took advantage of a position of trust and confidence to commit the offense
PC 803.5 – Statute of limitation
PC 801.5 – Statute of limitations