California Woman Pleads No Contest To Charges She Embezzled Nearly $1 Million

Beverly Roan, 58, of Merced County, California, has pleaded no contest to charges she embezzled nearly $1 million from J. Marchini Farms, where she had been employed as a payroll clerk.  According to authorities, over the course of about 8 years, beginning in 2003, Roan, siphoned funds from the farm through a payroll scheme that involved the creation of six phony employees which she then collected the payroll checks and kept the funds for herself.  Authorities report that Roan cashed the checks by forging her boss' signature and gambled away much of the proceeds at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino.  Roan faces 7 to 10 years in prison upon sentencing, scheduled for October 17, 2011.

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Update (10/17/11): Roan has been sentenced to 7 years in prison.