TEMPE, AZ – A Gilbert woman was arrested Wednesday morning for allegedly stealing funds from a small Tempe business.
Tempe police detectives arrested Tamarom In, 36, of Gilbert after a nearly year-long investigation into a complaint received of In stealing funds from Home Care Services.
Police said detectives investigated bank records, company spreadsheets, and other financial documentation that confirmed the complicated embezzlement and fraud schemes.
Over a period of 20 months, In reportedly embezzled $228,349.91 while working as the sole bookkeeper for the business.
In allegedly applied for a credit card using the name and identity of her employer.
She is accused of forging checks to herself and altering company records to cover the criminal activity.
Police said In created a non-profit basketball team, the Arizona Warriors, and used the stolen funds to pay for the team to travel around the country.
In also used a portion of the funds to pay for a cosmetic surgical procedure, according to police.
Tempe police said small businesses can minimize their chances of falling prey to this type of fraud by having one employee to reconcile their accounts and another employee handling the books. This method of quality control will serve as a check and balance system and will aid in the early detection of criminal activity.
In has been charged with theft by embezzlement, fraudulent schemes, and money laundering, all second degree felonies. In addition, she has been charged with aggravated identity theft, a third degree felony crime. In was booked into Tempe City Jail where she was held to see a judge.
