A 51-year-old Lynnwood woman has been taken into custody on suspicion of embezzling funds from an Edmonds dental clinic, where she held the position of office manager.
The woman allegedly pilfered $130,000, as per a press release from the City of Edmonds on Wednesday.
This is not the woman’s first brush with law enforcement for financial offenses. Detective Julie Govantes from the Edmonds Police Department discovered that the woman had previously been arrested and convicted in 2014 for defrauding another dental office. She was found guilty of theft in that case.
Detective Govantes reached out to two other dental practices where the accused had been employed. Both confirmed that they had terminated her employment after uncovering irregularities, but they did not report her to the authorities after she pledged to repay the stolen funds.
The investigation by the Edmonds Police Department was initiated in September 2022, prompted by a report filed by the owner of the dental clinic.
The owner suspected that a long-term employee, whom she had known for nearly three decades, was engaging in fraudulent activities in her role as office manager. The owner first noticed suspicious behavior in 2017 but chose to address it directly with the employee, believing that the matter had been resolved.
However, in September 2022, the owner engaged a consultant to conduct a business audit, revealing that the office manager had allegedly opened multiple unauthorized accounts in the clinic’s name and used them for personal purchases. Subsequently, the woman was terminated from her position.
Detective Govantes collaborated with various financial institutions, credit card companies, and the clinic’s owner to reconcile the questionable transactions, which amounted to over $250,000. The investigation established that the woman had misappropriated more than $130,000 on items such as jewelry, apparel, accessories, and personal care products.
According to the news release, there was evidence that the woman took advantage of the trust placed in her by the clinic’s owner.
Detective Govantes advised businesses to engage external auditors regularly.
“Small businesses should routinely use an outside auditor to review their accounts and business practices. Owners should ensure ongoing oversight and communication with individuals responsible for the company’s finances. Promptly investigating and responding to fraud alerts is crucial,” she stated.
The 51-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday on charges of theft and identity theft, and she was subsequently booked into the Snohomish County Jail.
As per the news release, the woman has been released from custody pending official charges, while Detective Govantes continues to collaborate with the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office for further review of the case.
