Woman Embezzles Over $83k From Canutillo Hardware Store

In January 2011, Sheriff?s Detectives began working on a case originated by Sheriff?s Deputies regarding an embezzlement case from a business ? Riverside Hardware (Victim) located at 7310 Doniphan El Paso County, TX.

An investigation by Sheriff?s Detectives revealed that an employee (44 year-old woman) of the business embezzled $83,468.94 over a period of three years from 2008 through 2010. The 44 year-old Offender was hired as the business office manager in which her duties and responsibilities involved the handling of Riverside Hardware’s credit accounts and making daily deposits of monies received during the normal course of business.

The Offender would also receive payments sent in by customers in which she and was to credit the amount toward the customer?s accounts. The theft was discovered by the head accountant when Riverside Hardware (Victim) attempted to collect on past due accounts. The customers listed as past due had copies of processed checks with which they had made the payments.

The Victim?s store manager and accountant attempted to speak to the Offender about several insufficient funds checks she had written for cash at Riverside Hardware. The Offender called in sick and did not present herself at the store.

During following weeks the accountant discovered the checks were written in an attempt to cover the theft of cash from the daily proceeds. It was also discovered that the Offender had taken cash in an amount corresponding to the amount a customer?s check had been written as payment toward their credit account.

The Offender would then place that check in with the cash to be deposited to justify the deposit against the cash she had taken. The checks the Offender wrote from her personal account were written to cover the eventual loss of monies. The Offender would then write another check for cash at Riverside Hardware, then take the cash and place it into her personal account to cover the previously written insufficient funds check.

Accounting evidence was gathered from the Riverside Hardware and Grand Jury Subpoenas requesting the Offender?s personal checking account information were executed. The Offenders personal banking account information showed several cash deposits made that were not consistent with her bi-weekly salary. The Offender also falsified Customer Account paperwork to cover the missing monies.

After a lengthy investigation, Sheriff?s Detectives met with the Offender who confessed to the scheme. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the woman who was identified as ADRIANA NAVA NEVAREZ (44) and informed her she was wanted. On Friday April 29, 2011, NEVAREZ called Sheriff?s Detectives & told them she wished to turn herself in for the charged Offense of Theft (Embezzlement) over $ 20,000- under $100,000. She was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.

SECTION: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

(WHITE COLLAR CRIMES UNIT)

EVENT: WOMAN EMBEZZLES OVER $83K FROM BUSINESS / ARREST MADE

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 7310 DONIPHAN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS

DATE / TIME: 2008-2010

RESULT: ARREST MADE