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The Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes – Financial Crimes Unit has concluded a painstaking investigation that has finally resulted in the apprehension of 44-year-old Santa Paula resident Tina Louise Torres. The charges against Torres, a name that will undoubtedly echo through the annals of dubious bookkeeping, indicate she has both a high-level set of bookkeeping skills and a nefariously criminal mindset.
Throughout 2019, Torres occupied the position of Manager at Santa Paula’s Limoneira Federal Credit Union. While entrusted with the solemn duty of handling their depositors’ funds, Torres, in a move that can only be described as audacious, exploited her position for considerable personal gain.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Jason Cantrall, Torres “skillfully engaged in embezzlement and the art of document forgery,” while an employee of the credit union. Her deception continued unabated until a formal financial audit unveiled her transgressions, culminating in the termination of her employment in August of 2019.
At that point, an investigation into her activities was begun by the VCSD Major Crimes-Financial Unit, the Fillmore Police Department, and the Ojai Police Department. That investigation led to the discovery of her larceny and the realization that she had managed to pilfer approximately $250,000.00 from the credit union coffers. These illicit activities, allegedly taking place from January 2016 to August 2019, ultimately led to her apprehension by VCSD detectives on the morning of June 6, 2023 at her Ojai residence.
She was transported to Ventura County Jail, where she was charged with an impressive tally of 17 felony counts of Grand Theft and eight felony counts of 471 PC, also known as Make, Forge, or Alter a Document. Her bail is set at $40,000.
