Family of woman who stole from nonprofit agrees to pay $39,000

WAILUKU — A Molokai woman was released from jail Thursday after her family agreed to pay $39,000 of the money she owes for stealing from a nonprofit organization.

Eliza-Kay Vendiola, 41, had spent more than a month in the Maui Community Correctional Center after she was sentenced March 10 to a six-month jail term as part of four years’ probation for second-degree computer fraud and first-degree theft.

She was doing bookkeeping for the Molokai Community Service Council when she wrote fraudulent checks to herself and others from June 30, 2017, to Dec. 12, 2019, according to court records.

After hearing Thursday that Vendiola’s family would pay the $39,000, 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill said he would modify Vendiola’s sentence to suspend the rest of the jail term if the money is paid so she would be released Thursday.

Cahill also set the restitution amount at $59,855, which was calculated based on paperwork submitted by the nonprofit.

Deputy Prosecutor J.W. Hupp said the nonprofit was hoping the amount would have been determined to be more.

At Vendiola’s sentencing last month, while the amount was still being calculated,

Deputy Public Defender Jeffrey Wolfenbarger said Vendiola had agreed to pay $70,000.

Cahill said Thursday that the victim could seek additional restitution through civil action.

Wolfenbarger said Vendiola reported “she has a job lined up” that she hoped would help her make more payments.

Based on her current financial situation, the judge ordered Vendiola to make payments at a rate of $30 a month.