Woman embezzled $160K for Amazon purchases, ‘extravagent’ birthday party: Santa Rosa PD

(KRON) -- Authorities in Santa Rosa arrested a former employee of a media company for embezzlement after investigators said she spent over $160,000 in unauthorized transactions. The 50-year-old San Jose woman was arrested earlier this year for allegedly embezzling over $300,000 from a previous employer, the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) said.

The Santa Rosa police investigation into the suspect, identified as Tina Cabudoy, began on April 4 when officers responded to a report of embezzlement at Amaturo Sonoma Media Group LLC. The business’ representatives told authorities that they believed Cabudoy, a former business manager for the company, had stolen over $100,000 while under employment.

Detectives from SRPD’s Property Crimes Investigations Team audited the expenses made by Cabudoy and served several search warrants at financial institutes, police said. According to investigators, Cabudoy spent over $160,000 on “household Amazon purchases, personal travel, lavish hotel stays, an extravagant birthday party for herself, and passing checks to herself.”

During the Santa Rosa PD investigation which spanned months, Cabudoy moved from Santa Rosa to San Jose, police said.

On Oct. 30, Santa Rosa police served a search warrant at Cabudoy’s residence on the 14000 block of Jerilyn Drive in San Jose. Cabudoy was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility for embezzlement, with a bail enhancement of $100,000.

Cabudoy was previously arrested in March by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly embezzling $300,000 from a San Carlos tech company where she had worked. Judicial proceedings related to the San Mateo County case are still ongoing, Santa Rosa police noted.