2 Women Admit to $3 Million Embezzlement Scheme from Taylor Farms and will Go to Prison

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 District Attorney’s Office then continued the

investigation with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Rachel Maldonado and Forensic

Auditor Sandra Kyzivat.

Rodriguez and Vargas will be sentenced on September 8, 2026, by the Honorable Judge Mark E.

Hood.

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Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

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King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

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On Monday, September 16 at approximately 3:50 pm, a fatal traffic collision occurred on Metz Road south of Elm Avenue in Greenfield. The driver who caused the collision fled on foot and is currently outstanding. The California Highway Patrol King City Area is currently seeking the whereabouts of 31-year-old Agustin Santana-Moncada of King City who has been identified as a person of interest in the case. The King City Area is requesting assistance from the public in locating Santana-Moncada. Anyone with information is asked to contact the King City Area office at (831) 385-3216.

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