Thousand Oaks Woman Begins Jail Sentence For $1 Million Theft From Employer

Monday February 13, 2023

     Updated--A Thousand Oaks woman Monday checked into the Ventura County Jail to begin serving one year behind bars for stealing more than a $1 million from her employer.

     60-year-old Dana Vines will also face 48 months of conditional probation and a suspended four year jail sentence that does not have to be served if she meets the conditions of her probation.

     Her 365 days in jail meanwhile will likely be less than that given credit for what's commonly called "good time, work time."

     Vines has and will be in the process of paying restitution to an insurance company.

     She could have been sentenced to 14 years in state prison.

     In October, Vines pleaded guilty to 9 counts of grand theft plus several special allegations.

     The authorities say that Vines was the operations manager of Aviara Real Estate in Thousand Oaks and was responsible for the financial business matters of the company.

     Prosecutors say between 2007 and 2020 Vines embezzled $1.12 million from her employers.

     They say she used the stolen money to pay personal credit card expenses, bonuses, and health insurance for her and her children.

     Vines had originally pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of grand theft and denied the special allegations.

     In October, she changed her plea to guilty on 9 of the counts and admitted the special allegations.