Woman admits embezzlement, elder abuse in Yolo County case  

 

A Calistoga woman has pleaded guilty to embezzlement and elder abuse in a case involving a Yolo County resident.

 

Denise Ann Conophy pleaded guilty to embezzlement, elder abuse and tax evasion, and admitted that she took more than $200,000, according to a Yolo County District Attorney's Office news release. Conophy also agreed to forfeit more than $300,000 in cash and property, previously seized by the District Attorney's Office over the course of the investigation, to pay restitution to the victim.

 

Officials said Conophy was hired by the victim to handle bookkeeping and other financial affairs relating to a bed and breakfast business that the victim operated in St. Helena. Over the course of her seven-year employment, Conophy transferred the victim's assets to various accounts to pay her personal bills and to start an Internet business.  

 

The crimes were discovered when the victim was hospitalized for an extended period and family members discovered that her assets had been depleted.

 

During the investigation, the California Franchise Tax Board discovered that Conophy had failed to file a state income tax return during an eight-year period and had failed to report the stolen funds as income.

 

The case resulted from investigations by the Woodland Police Department, state Franchise Tax Board and the District Attorney's Life and Annuity Fraud Investigative Unit.

 

Conophy is to be sentenced March 8 by Yolo County Superior Court Judge Janet Gaard.