|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A Mountain View woman was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of embezzlement and identity fraud after a police investigation discovered that she stole $500,000 from her employer, forcing it into bankruptcy earlier this year, according to a statement from the Menlo Park Police Department.
Amerlinda Mendoza, 59, was an office manager for Strategic Business Insights (SBI), a research and consulting firm based in Menlo Park, where she was employed for more than nine years, police said.
In January 2023, Mendoza was entrusted with overseeing the company’s bank accounts and financial transactions after the previous office manager retired. In this role, Mendoza made payments to vendors, transferred funds between accounts and handled payroll, police said.
In January 2024, the company discovered major discrepancies in its finances with funds missing from multiple accounts. The CEO filed a report, and two days later, Mendoza resigned from her position, police said.
An eight-month investigation revealed that Mendoza had allegedly withdrawn and transferred funds from the company’s bank accounts to gamble at casinos and pay for personal expenses. Over the course of a year, Mendoza had embezzled approximately $500,000 from SBI, resulting in its bankruptcy and the job loss of more than 20 employees as well as unpaid vendors, police said.
A search warrant was served at Mendoza’s residence on Sept. 4, and she was arrested without incident and booked into San Mateo County Jail with a bail set at $750,000. The case has been forwarded to the San Mateo County District’s Office for prosecution, police said.
