Woman pleads not guilty in embezzling case
Saugus resident was treasurer for several Girl Scout troops
A woman accused of stealing nearly $90,000 from local nonprofit groups, including the Girl Scouts and a center for cancer patients, was arraigned in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday.
Patricia Cascione, 52, was arrested in September by detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau on suspicion of grand theft and theft by false pretense.
After Cascione’s initial arrest, a search warrant at the Cascione home in Saugus led to additional
evidence, LASD Deputy Marvin Crowder wrote in a news release.
The alleged amount stolen was approximately $88,000, according to Sheriff’s Department officials. Cascione is accused of embezzling more than $58,000 from several Girl Scout troops and service unit bank accounts over which she had control in the last five years.
Cascione was the treasurer for multiple Girl Scout troops, including a local Girl Scouts troop in Santa Clarita, sheriff’s officials said in a news release.
LASD detectives also suspect Cascione of stealing about $30,000 from the Beverly Hills Cancer Center.
The search warrant and arrest are the culmination of a 15-month investigation.
Investigators suspect there might be additional victims. They’ve asked anyone with questions or information to contact the LASD Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau, Sgt. David Chambers at 661-471-1534.
“The next date is a preliminary hearing setting on Nov. 13 in Dept. 35,” according to Paul Eakins, spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Her bail amount was raised at the hearing from
$20,000 to $50,000.
Cascione was arrested Sept. 17 around 12:30 p.m., according to Sheriff’s Department arrest records. She was released on bail the same day at approximately 4:30 p.m.