SALINAS, California -- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on June 17 that 38-year-old Karen Rodriguez and 34-year-old Elizabeth Vargas both current residents of Arizona, have pleaded no contest to 2 counts each of felony embezzlement and sentencing enhancements for theft over $500,000 because of their $3 million dollar embezzlement scheme from Taylor Farms. Rodriguez and Vargas will be sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in the California Department of Corrections. Rodriguez and Vargas were employed in the Human Resources department of Automated Harvesting LLC, a subsidiary of Taylor Farms, between 2019-2023. During that time, Rodriguez and Vargas issued and cashed hundreds of fraudulent checks that were made out to former H1B Visa employees who had returned to Mexico and were no longer working for the company. Salinas Police Department Detectives Byron Gansen and Pete Gomez began an investigation after Taylor Farms discovered the theft in 2023. The Dis...
Monterey County Sheriff's Deputies Arrest Multiple Suspects After Early Morning Burglary on June 14 at a Cannibis Facility South of Salinas that Led to Multiple Vehicle Pursuits Across Multiple Counties
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 2 adults and 2 juveniles related to an early morning burglary at a cannabis greenhouse facility that resulted in 2 vehicle pursuits ending in San Benito County and San Francisco. Two additional adults are facing multiple felony charges. On Sunday, June 14 just after 4:00 AM, deputies were dispatched to a burglary in progress at a cannabis greenhouse facility along the 26,800 block of Encinal Road in the unincorporated area of Monterey County just south of Salinas. A security guard reported multiple vehicles, and multiple armed subjects had accessed the business by cutting through a fence. The suspects were reported to be taking processed cannabis. While responding, deputies were able to locate vehicles they believed were involved in the burglary. One deputy encountered and attempted to stop a red Honda Accord which failed to yield. The vehicle led deputies on a pursuit into San Benito County and then into Santa Clara County. San J...