SALINAS, California -- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on October 18 that 38-year-old Karen Rodriguez and 34-year-old Elizabeth Vargas both current residents of Arizona, have been charged with embezzling more than $3 million dollars from Taylor Farms. 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 employees who had returned to Mexico and were no longer working for the company. Vargas is charged with 15 counts of Grand Theft by Embezzlement and Rodriguez is charged with 14 counts of Grand Theft by Embezzlement.
Salinas Police Department Detectives Byron Gansen and Pete Gomez began an investigation after
Taylor Farms discovered the theft in 2023. The District Attorney’s Office then continued the
investigation with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Rachel Maldonado and Forensic
Auditor Sandra Kyzivat. On October 11, 2024, the District Attorney’s Office sought, and the
Monterey Superior Court issued, arrest warrants for Vargas and Rodriguez. On October 16, 2024,
Rodriguez was arrested by the San Luis Police Department at the San Luis Port of Entry in Yuma,
Arizona. On October 17, 2024, Vargas was arrested by the San Luis Police Department during a
traffic stop in Somerton, Arizona. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office will seek
extradition to Monterey County. Bail is set at $200,000 each.
Anyone who has information about Elizabeth Vargas or Karen Rodriguez is encouraged to contact
District Attorney Investigator Rachel Maldonado.
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