The longtime bookkeeper for a Ventura County real estate company has been accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the firm.
Ventura County prosecutors say Inez Marie Byars has been charged with nine felony counts including grand theft, forgery, and elder abuse.
The 43 year old Oxnard woman worked for Discountland, Incorporated. Oxnard Police detectives say Byars would forge checks, and misuse a company ATM card.
Prosecutors say she then covered the thefts with money which was supposed to go to property tax payments for parcels Discountland managed.
Investigators say the crimes went on for years, but that the company’s elderly owner was unaware of embezzlement which was taking place on a regular basis.
