Charity’s Bookkeeper Suspected of Embezzling

A bookkeeper for United Way of Ventura County was recently arrested on suspicion of embezzling $12,000 from the charity, a spokeswoman said.

Linda Sullivan, 40, of Ventura, was arrested last Tuesday and released later the same day on her own recognizance, Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Larson said.

She is scheduled to appear in Municipal Court at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Sullivan is suspected of stealing the money by writing 12 checks to herself over a five-month period, United Way spokeswoman Sylvia Schnopp said. United Way officials and their bank became suspicious when they noticed improper endorsement on the checks, Schnopp said.

United Way immediately fired Sullivan and later called the police, Schnopp said.

Sullivan is suspected of embezzling the money since United Way’s last audit in August, 1990, Schnopp said. The agency recovered $5,807.57 of the money by stopping payment on unauthorized checks and claiming Sullivan’s accrued vacation pay and final paycheck, Schnopp said.

In addition, the agency, which funds 64 charities and public service organizations around the county, expects to recover $5,000 from its insurance carrier, Schnopp said.

“This is a very unfortunate situation,” the organization’s executive director said in a written statement.