According to a statement from the Menlo Park Police Department, a police investigation revealed that a Mountain View woman had stolen $500,000 from her workplace, pushing it into bankruptcy earlier this year. She was then arrested on accusations of embezzlement and identity fraud on Wednesday.
Amerlinda Mendoza,59, worked for Strategic Business Insights (SBI), a Menlo Park-based research and consulting company, as the office manager for more than nine years, according to the police.
After the previous office manager retired in January 2023, Mendoza was given responsibility for managing the company’s bank accounts and financial activities. Mendoza managed payroll, moved money between accounts, and paid vendors in this capacity, according to the police.
The business found significant financial irregularities in January 2024, with money disappearing from several accounts. According to authorities, Mendoza resigned from her position two days after the CEO submitted a report.
Following an eight-month probe, it was discovered that Mendoza had purportedly taken money out of the business’s bank accounts and moved it elsewhere in order to indulge in casino gambling and cover personal costs. Mendoza had embezzled almost $500,000 from SBI over the course of a year, leading to the bank’s bankruptcy, the termination of over 20 workers, and unpaid invoices from vendors, according to authorities.
On September 4, a search warrant was executed at Mendoza’s home. She was taken into custody without incident and her bail was set at $750,000 when she was checked into San Mateo County Jail. According to authorities, the case has been sent to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.