Indictment made of Alza embezzler Indictment made of Alza embezzler (January 28, 2005)

Federal prosecutors announced last week the indictment of a Santa Cruz woman for allegedly embezzling more than $700,000 from Mountain View-based biotechnology company Alza Corp.

Kimberly S. Mayer, 41, was charged with 12 counts of mail and wire fraud in U.S. District Court in San Jose. She is currently free on $25,000 bail.

According to prosecutors, Mayer charged personal expenses to her company credit card over a five-year period. Among the expenses she charged the company for were building materials used to remodel her Santa Cruz home, heavy equipment rentals, including a manure spreader, and other personal purchases such as a package of Harris Ranch steaks she sent to her father for Father's Day.

The maximum possible penalty for each count of wire and mail fraud is 20 years in prison but Mayer's actual sentence, if she is convicted, would depend on federal sentencing guidelines.
-- Bay City News

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