"We are writing to you as the sitting board of the Weott Community Services District, asking for a resolution to case # 202206355. Our former Administrative Manager, Julie Santibanez, was suspended in December of 2022, due to allegations of embezzlement and theft of Weott CSD's funds"

 

(WCSD website)

I received this email late Sunday afternoon. "I have heard that Julie Santibanez,  former employee at Weott Community Services District, has been arrested and charged with embezzlement and identity fraud. But who knows. There was a ton of info turned over to the DA. But I can't find any info anywhere. Perhaps you can dig into the status of this?"

Santibanez does have a 2023 case in which she is represented by Mr. Michael Acosta.

Santibanez used to be the WCSD administrative manager. Her Linkedin profile still lists that position but the location is Anaheim, California. No photo on that profile. Another google search lists her current address in Weott. 

 The alleged embezzlement was confirmed by a letter from the WCSD to the Humboldt County DA in April 2023. On Monday, I did my own follow up. The DA did charge her in 2023 with Count 1PC 503 embezzlement and Count 2 PC 530.5 (a) identity theft. That complaint was filed on 7/31.She was arraigned on 8/23. Records were subpoenaed from U.S. Bank and WCSD. Preliminary hearing is on November 8. 

WCSD Letter to DA:

"We are writing to you as the sitting board of the Weott Community Services District, asking for a resolution to case # 202206355. Our former Administrative Manager, Julie  Santibanez, was suspended in December of 2022, due to allegations of embezzlement and theft of Weott CSD's funds. Based on the District's review, we are concerned and believe there is a total of $72,783.40 of missing funds over the past 5 years. We are continuing to investigate the purchases and waiting for confirmation receipts. We currently have all bank statement information assembled available for the District Attorney's office investigation and will provide all transaction receipts as soon as we can. The District asks the District Attorney's ofice to utilize any and all victim restitution options available to it to attempt to recover proceeds for the District. "

On a weekend, this is not something that is an emergency. I will follow up with DA Stacey Eads tomorrow and do more follow up to see if there was an arrest. I have cced WCSD in my email to Ms. Eads. Haven't heard from WCSD at all but I did email Ms. Eads that I had the information on 2023 case.

Tried to get a booking photo for her recent arrest but there doesn't seem to be one. HCSO cannot release a 2008 booking photo because of Kinney v. Superior Court (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 168. HCSO PIO Samantha Karges told me, "We are only required to disclose information pertaining to contemporaneous police activity. Anything that old would fall under summary criminal history and is restricted per PC 13300."

Santibanez a petty theft conviction in 2009 case and violation of probation in 2010. Several of her other cases were dismissed for various reasons including one after deferred entry of judgement.

2023 case:

Other cases in Humboldt Superior Court:

11/8: Preliminary hearing continued to 2/7/24 by defense.