Former Fortuna City Councilmember Kris Mobley has been federally indicted on three counts of mail and wire fraud stemming from allegations she embezzled more than $500,000 from a local construction company that had employed her for 30 years. Journal attempts to reach Mobley, who was elected to the council in 2022 and resigned her post […]
embezzlement
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Former HumCo Fair Bookkeeper Indicted for Alleged ‘Ghost Payroll’ Scheme
A federal grand jury has indicted the Humboldt County Fair Association’s former bookkeeper on five counts of wire fraud stemming from an alleged embezzlement scheme that prosecutors believe saw her reroute hundreds of thousands of dollars from the association and another local nonprofit to her personal accounts in 2021 and 2022. Nina Tafarella, who oversaw […]
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NCJ Preview: Embezzlement, a Singing Chef and Spearfishing
This week we’re looking at the alleged embezzlement at the Humboldt County Fair Association. We’re also talking about the singing coming from the kitchen at Opera Alley Bistro, where the chef croons while he cooks. Finally, we’ve got tips for those who want to spearfish in Humboldt. Hit subscribe for weekly updates on local stories.
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FBI Takes on Fair Association Embezzlement Investigation
The investigation and possible prosecution of a 47-year-old woman accused of embezzling from the Humboldt County Fair Association and a Eureka nonprofit are being taken over by federal agencies, according to Ferndale Police Chief Ron Sligh. Nina Tafarella, 47, was arrested Nov. 15 by Ferndale police at Bear River Casino on suspicion of embezzling more […]
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Ford Sentenced in Cannabis Insurance Embezzlement Case
Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Christopher Wilson sentenced John Ford to serve 90 days in jail and five years probation after the former insurance broker pleaded guilty to felony embezzlement. An investigation by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office and the California Office of Insurance alleged that Ford contracted with various clients […]
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The Early Bird: LeValley home from prison ‘sabbatical’
About nine and a half months after surrendering to federal prison, embattled local biologist Ron LeValley recently announced his return home with a grinning selfie taken somewhere on the North Coast and a plea for help paying down the debts incurred from his “sabbatical.” Since LeValley’s incarceration for conspiring to embezzle almost $1 million from […]
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Biologist Gets 10 Months for Yurok Grift
A judge today sentenced a local biologist to serve 10 months in prison for his role in conspiring to embezzle nearly $1 million in federal funds from the Yurok Tribe over a three-year period beginning in 2007, according to Yurok Tribal Chairman Thomas O’Rourke. Mad River Biologists founder Ron LeValley pleaded guilty in February to […]
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Biologist Pleads Guilty in Yurok Embezzlement Case
A local biologist pleaded guilty today to a single federal count of conspiring to embezzle funds from an Indian tribal organization stemming from the bilking of nearly $1 million in federal funds from the Yurok Tribe over a three-year period beginning in 2007, tribal spokesman Matt Mais confirmed. According to court documents, Mad River Biologists […]
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Former Yurok Official Sentenced in Embezzlement Case
Former Yurok Tribe Forestry Director Roland Raymond was sentenced to serve three years in federal prison today for his role in an embezzlement scheme that bilked nearly $1 million in federal funds from the tribe. Raymond, 50, faced a maximum of five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a single count of conspiring […]
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Biologist Charged in Last Year’s $1 Million Embezzlement
Federal embezzlement charges were filed this week against biologist Ron LeValley, who was arrested last year following investigation into a nearly million-dollar grift involving the Yurok Tribe and Levalley’s Mad River Biologists. The Times-Standard‘s Thadeus Greenson reported today that LeValley is expected to appear in court for the first time this month. He and biologist […]