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A former accountant for the Brea-based "Sweet Life" bakery chain was caught with her hands in the cookie jar and arrested on multiple counts of alleged fraud baked into an elaborate embezzlement scheme.
Ligia Baciu, a 35-year-old Fullerton woman, allegedly spent $236,000 on company credit cards, according to City News Service. Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche said that she spent the money on everyday purchases like Costco groceries and car insurance as well as an engagement ring and fertility treatments for her partner.
Brea police arrested Baciu at her home today, and she's being held on $250,000 bail. She could face up to 20 years and four months in prison if convicted, authorities said.
Baciu managed employee credit card accounts at Sweet Life Enterprises from 2005 to 2009. She opened multiple cards in her name and allegedly started to siphon cash in 2008. She ordered the bills from the credit card companies and manipulated them to look like the expenses were charged by other employees.
Baciu was laid off in October 2009 but continued to use the cards. Her replacement in accounting discovered the theft in January 2010. Authorities only got around to her arrest today because, authorities said, it took a long to time to get all the search warrants.
