Suspect arrested for identity fraud and embezzlement
Published on September 04, 2024
Menlo Park, Calif. – On September 4, 2024, Amerlinda Mendoza, a 59-year-old resident of Mountain View, was arrested, and is being charged with embezzlement and identity fraud following an extensive investigation into her financial practices at the now-dissolved Menlo Park business, Strategic Business Insights (SBI).
Mendoza, who served as Finance Manager at SBI, had been an employee for over nine years. In January 2023, she was entrusted with managing the company’s bank accounts and overseeing financial responsibilities after the previous office manager retired. Mendoza was responsible for making payments to vendors, transferring funds between accounts, and handling payroll.
In January 2024, discrepancies in SBI’s finances were discovered, prompting the CEO to file a police report with the Menlo Park Police Department. Mendoza resigned two days after the discovery that significant funds were missing from the company’s accounts.
Menlo Park Police Department Detective’s investigation revealed that Mendoza had withdrawn and transferred funds from SBI’s bank accounts to gamble at local casinos, pay for personal expenses, and transfer money via Venmo and PayPal. These actions resulted in a loss of approximately $500,000 over the course of one year, leading to SBI’s bankruptcy and the permanent job loss of more than twenty employees as well as unpaid vendors. After nearly eight months of investigation, it was determined that Mendoza had employed various methods to embezzle funds from multiple accounts.
A search warrant was served at her residence along with a $750,000 warrant for her arrest. Mendoza was arrested without incident and booked into San Mateo County Jail for charges of one count of Embezzlement - Penal Code 508 PC and 18 counts of Identity Fraud - Penal Code 530.5(a) PC. The case has been forwarded to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
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Contact:
Nicole Acker
nmacker@menlopark.gov
650-330-6325