Woman Who Stole Funds from Wildomar Firm Sentenced

By City News Service, image via Shutterstock

A Wildomar-based property investment firm partner who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in company funds was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Celeste Marie Avellana, 63, of Mission Viejo pleaded guilty last December to 34 felony counts, including grand theft, forgery and falsifying documents. No charges were dismissed under the plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Superior Court Judge Judith Clark imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.

According to sheriff’s officials, Avellana misappropriated nearly $750,000 intended for distribution to her associates at Potter & Schleuniger, a California limited liability company that handles rental properties throughout the region.

Detectives said the defendant functioned as a controller and embezzled money for several years. The illicit activity was apparently uncovered during an audit, culminating in a seven-month-long sheriff’s investigation.

Avellana, who had been free on $100,000 bail, was scheduled for sentencing on two prior occasions, but proceedings were postponed until the Department of Probation could complete a report detailing the defendant’s acts and providing recommendations on an appropriate sentence.

Avellana has no prior convictions.