Judge Places Ex-Socialite Under House Arrest : Courts: Daniel Hernandez, accused of bilking millions, violated terms of his bail by traveling to Las Vegas, New Orleans and Denver.

A federal judge Monday ordered Daniel Hernandez, who has admitted skimming millions of dollars from his employer, to submit to electronic house arrest for violating his $100,000 bail by traveling outside the Orange County-Los Angeles area.

Hernandez, 40, admitted to U.S. District Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler that he traveled to Las Vegas, Denver, New Orleans and San Diego County without notifying federal authorities, and spent a reconciliation weekend with his wife in the Napa Valley.

Stotler, ruling that Hernandez had “plainly violated the orders of this court not once, but several times,” said he could leave his $900,000 Mission Viejo home only to look for work, seek medical care, meet with government lawyers or attend Sunday church services.

Stotler warned Susie Hernandez, 41, who made the trip to Napa, but did not change the conditions of her bail.

Earlier this year, the Hernandezes pleaded guilty to reduced charges of tax evasion, mail fraud and money laundering, after they were accused of skimming millions of dollars from the precious-metals firm Daniel Hernandez worked for, PGP Industries of Santa Fe Springs.

The couple, who arrived in court in a white Mercedes convertible, were allowed to plead to the lesser charges in exchange for their agreement to cooperate with the government in an ongoing investigation of Hernandez’s charges against PGP Industries, according to a sealed agreement.

Daniel Hernandez told The Times in an interview last year that he was prepared to testify that PGP officials had skimmed up to $250 million from clients, saying he shortchanged clients by $8 million to $12 million a year.

When they are sentenced Jan. 24, Daniel Hernandez faces a maximum of 25 years in prison; Susie Hernandez faces 16 months.

He also agreed to forfeit to the government $7.85 million in assets, used to support their lavish, philanthropic lifestyle. In addition, government attorneys said, he is liable for an additional $500,000 in fines, plus possible restitution to his former employer. Susie Hernandez agreed to pay $1.5 million to $2.5 million in back taxes on the stolen money.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Wolfe, who asked the judge to revoke Hernandez’s bail, said assets recovered so far represent only a fraction of what is owed.

In a pretrial interview with federal authorities, called to discuss the trips, Hernandez also acknowledged for the first time that he owns property in the Cabo San Lucas area of Baja California.

Judge Stotler said her decision to place him under house arrest was prompted by an anonymous letter, as was the initial investigation that led to the couple’s arrest.

Government investigators said that “someone in the community” tipped the Internal Revenue Service that they might want to investigate how the Hernandezes were able to support their lifestyle, which included exotic vacations, 15 luxury vehicles and major philanthropic contributions, on a salary of $60,000 a year. Susie Hernandez is not employed.