Bookkeeper gets 13 years after embezzling from Irvine company

A bookkeeper, who embezzled $1.7 million from work, was sentenced Thursday to 13 years and four months in state prison, prosecutors said.

Rebecca Rhea Moore, 39, of Dyersburg, Tenn., pleaded guilty to multiple felonies, including grand theft by embezzlement, computer access fraud and falsifying records, and forgery, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Moore forged the company owner’s name on checks.

In addition to prison time, Moore will have to pay $1.7 million in restitution and $117,578 in state taxes to the California Franchise Tax Board, prosecutors said.

Five months after Moore began working for Irvine-based Dan Miller Inc. she began making out forged checks to herself, prosecutors said.

This continued for almost eight years before the victim reported the theft to the Irvine Police Department in October 2011.

Police arrested Moore in October 2012.

Dan Miller Inc.’s co-owner Jennifer Miller spoke at Moore’s sentencing Thursday and said Moore’s actions had a devastating impact on her family-owned business, according to the D.A.’s office.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30