Tuesday, October 28, 2014

California Woman Arrested On Charges She Embezzled More Than $150K From Dental Office

Prosecutors allege Sandra Salazar Malloy, 53, of Lodi, California, has been arrested and charged with embezzling some $153,720 from the dental offices of Gary Silva, DDS in Lodi where she was employed as an office assistance in charge of accounts receivable.  Malloy allegedly pocketed cash payments meant for the dental practice as well as credit card refunds.  The thefts spanned a 5 year period from 2009 to September 2014. 

Update (11/5/14) from News 10, KXTV:

A woman accused of stealing more than $150,000 from a Lodi dentist pleaded guilty in court on Wednesday.

Sandra Salazar Malloy, 53, of Galt, pleaded guilty to felony grand theft and embezzlement charges; and as part of her plea deal, other charges against her were dismissed, San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Stephen Taylor said.

The investigation into Malloy started in September. She was the bookkeeper for dentist Dr. Gary Silva when he fired her. Silva then hired a forensic accountant in October, who found that Malloy was embezzling money from the dentist's practice.

Taylor said Malloy admitted to stealing cash from patient payments. Further investigation found Malloy stole more than $150,000 by running "refunds" on Silva's credit card terminal to her personal bank debit cards.

Records show this isn't Malloy's first time embezzling money from a dentist. In 1994, she was prosecuted and convicted of stealing from a Stockton dentist. Taylor said it is unclear how much she stole and if the money was recovered.

Malloy faces a possible four-year state prison term. If she makes pre-sentencing restitution, Malloy could receive probation for this crime with a possible jail term, Taylor said.

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