Employee arrested on suspicion of stealing almost $1M
A Ventura County woman has been arrested on charges of stealing more than $950,000 from Conejo Valley Women’s Group.
Elizabeth Ann Jones, a 43-year-old Newbury Park resident, was arrested on Sept. 10 on suspicion of grand theft, forgery, computer fraud and aggravated white collar crime enhancement following an investigation by the Ventura County Sherrif’s Department.
According to the District Attorney’s office, Jones was a bookkeeper at Conejo Valley Women’s Group, a medical practice, for 18 years. Her employer reportedly became suspicious in December 2008 after discovering questionable payments made with company funds. Jones was fired and an audit of all company checks since 2002 ensued.
The audit reportedly discovered that Jones had forged and issued hundreds of company checks to herself, her creditors and to creditors of her family members. In total, she is alleged to have stolen more than $950,000 from Conejo Valley Women’s Group.
She was arrested on Sept. 10 and released on $30,000 bail. Her arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court is scheduled for Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. If convicted of all charges, Jones faces a maximum sentences of nine years and four months in state prison.
