Wine company HR staff convicted of embezzlement
Cynthia Gonzales
Two former employees of Bronco Wine Company were recently charged with felony grand theft for payroll fraud August 2nd in Modesto. Turlock resident Cynthia Gonzales and Sharon Verville Lopez of Ripon both worked in the Human Resources Department. The embezzlement was discovered during a routine, internal audit made in early 2011. Bronco Wine Company bottles a large variety of wines, including Crane Lake, and the famous Charles Shaw label, also known as “Two Buck Chuck” to Trader Joe’s customers.
Sharon Lopez
The two suspects conspired and committed most of the thefts throughout 2010. Bronco alerted the Modesto Police Department after conducting the audit, and Detective Billy Redding was able to gather enough information to allow the District Attorney’s Office to file criminal charges against Gonzales and Lopez.
Both Gonzalez and Lopez entered pleas to felony grand theft. They were sentenced to 180 days jail and ordered to pay restitution.
Read More:
Turlock City News: Two Former Employees Convicted in Bronco Wine Company Embezzlement
Turlock Journal: Former Bronco Wine employees guilty of embezzlement
