Visalia property manager held in embezzlement
fresnobee.com | 1/9/09 | $60,000 | suspect: Sylvia Gonzales
Visalia police are warning tenants not to make rent payments to Sylvia Gonzales, 25, who was arrested Thursday on suspicion of embezzlement. Gonzales, owner of Moreno Property Management in Visalia, is accused of collecting rent money but not making mortgage payments on at least 16 properties she managed, police said.
She was arrested around 10 a.m. Thursday, posted bail about eight hours later and reportedly was collecting rent again on Friday, Visalia police detective Brian Young said.
"We had contact with her [Friday morning] telling her to cease and desist and and she continues to collect rent on properties," Young said.
Tenants whose homes are managed by Gonzales should contact their property owners and also save all documents from her, he said.
Gonzales is suspected of embezzling $50,000 to $60,000 from one property owner; police still are adding up the total amount in the case, Visalia police Sgt. Steve Phillips said. Police expect to hear from more victims and for the case to extend beyond Visalia.
In some cases, Gonzales did not pay utility bills for the properties, forcing residents to live without electricity or natural gas in their rentals, police said.
The allegations surfaced when some properties went into foreclosure and the owners were notified by the lending companies.
"She would lie to the owners and say it was the banks' fault," Phillips said.
She has been managing property under her business, even though she is not licensed to do so, police said.
Gonzales was arrested Thursday at the Tulare County juvenile court. Police became aware that she would be at the court for an unrelated hearing. She was booked at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility on suspicion of embezzlement, grand theft and passing fictitious checks. She posted $20,000 in bail.