Walmart Employees Accused Of Embezzling From Retail Giant

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- Nine employees of Walmart in Riverside County are free on bail Tuesday after they were arrested on suspicion of embezzling money from the retail giant.

The employees were arrested after an investigation showed they allegedly used a fraudulent coupon code to load money onto Walmart gift cards. More than 1,000 unauthorized transactions were reported at the Palm Desert store, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

A total of 22 employees were arrested on Nov. 15 and 15 suspects were booked into the Indio Jail for embezzlement and conspiracy charges. Property obtained while using the fraudulent Walmart cards were recovered, the Sheriff's Department said.

The following suspects face charges:

• Lidia Estrada, 33-year-old resident of Palm Springs
• Daniel Gonzalez, 41-year-old resident of Palm Desert
• Marianne Calizo, 21-year-old resident of Palm Desert
• Maria Zelaya, 26-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs
• Imauny Marshall, 19-year-old resident of Cathedral City
• Carol Collins, 49-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs
• Noemi Zelaya, 29-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs
• Maria Contreras, 42-year-old resident of La Quinta
• Ariadna Mayorga, 21-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs
• Alicia Herrera, 53-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs
• Miguel Esteban, 25-year-old resident of Bermuda Dunes
• Roberto Luna, 29-year-old resident of La Quinta
• Selene Melchor-Molina, 31-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs
• Amy Vasquez, 31-year-old resident of La Quinta
• Edwin Rios, 19-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs

Six employees were released pending further investigation, the Sheriff's Department said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Stan at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600.

--Photo by Alan Diaz/Associated Press