Petaluma Woman Suspected Of Embezzlement

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Petaluma woman was arrested Tuesday following a monthslong investigation into irregularities in the financial records of an undisclosed landscape design and construction company based in Santa Rosa.

The investigation began in July when the Santa Rosa Police Department was notified of the possible theft of funds from the company, SRPD Sgt. Patricia Seffens said.

"The company had hired a new bookkeeper who noticed irregularities in the company’s financial records," Seffens said. "A closer look uncovered an abundance of unauthorized credit card transactions."

Detectives with the SRPD Property Crimes Investigations Team took over the investigation and spent several months authoring and serving search warrants for various business and financial institution records.

Through the information uncovered in those records along with interviews with employees of the company, detectives identified the company’s previous bookkeeper, Jennifer Sutton, 48, of Petaluma, as the suspect in this long-term embezzlement, Seffens said.

Sutton is suspected of fraudulently charging over $150,000 to a company credit card over a five-year period.

"Sutton used the credit card for cash advances and non-business-related purchases with Amazon, Google, DoorDash, and to pay personal utilities such as water, electricity, and cable/internet services," Seffens said.

It is alleged that evidence of the embezzlement was found Tuesday when detectives served a search warrant at Sutton’s residence located on Dandelion Way.

Sutton was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of embezzlement and aggravated white-collar crime enhancement, Seffens said.

Sutton remained in custody Tuesday evening and has a court appearance scheduled for Thursday.

A bail amount was not posted in jail records.