La Quinta woman pleads guilty to embezzling $114K from local business
A La Quinta woman pleaded guilty today to embezzling more than $114,000 from a local brokerage business where she worked and was immediately sentenced to three years probation.
Isabel Sonia Bandzej, 51, pleaded guilty to a single felony count of embezzlement Monday in connection with taking $114,304 from a brokerage business where she maintained payment invoices for several clients.
The money was taken in 2014 and Bandzej was arrested the following year, after sheriff’s investigators searched her home.
The owner realized money was missing from his business bank account when he received a collections notice from a client, sheriff’s officials said.
Bandzej admitted taking the money, according to a declaration filed with the court, stating that she took the funds to settle a debt with the IRS.
As part of the plea agreement reached Monday, a felony grand theft charge was dismissed. Bandzej is due back in court May 29 for a hearing regarding victim restitution.
Download the KESQ & CBS Local 2 app on iTunes or Google Play for up-to-the-minute breaking news alerts & more
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
Find us on Facebook: KESQ News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2
Follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates: @KESQ & @Local2
We’re on Instagram! @KESQ_News_Channel_3 & @CBSLocal2
Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
