Former Dana Point Chamber CEO Headed to Court for Alleged Theft

The former president/chief executive officer of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce will be arraigned Thursday for stealing more than $129,000 from her employer, using the COC credit card and checking account, reports the Orange Country District Attorney's office.  

39, Highland, is charged with three felony counts of grand theft by an employee with sentencing enhancements and allegations for over $100,000 in loss, aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, and property damage over $65,000. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of over six years in state prison.

Chambers is being held on $130,000 bail and is scheduled for a continued arraignment in at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, according to the D.A.

At the time of the alleged crime, Chambers was working as the president/CEO of the Dana Point COC. She is accused of working as a paid employee hired by the Board of Directors, responsible for daily operations.

Between January 2008 and October 2010, Chambers is accused of stealing more than $129,000 by using the COC's credit card and checking account for personal expenses not authorized by the chamber board, including clothes, child care, dining out, a trip to Las Vegas and other items, according to the D.A.

In October 2010, a board member became suspicious when Chambers failed to provide proper financial records for review, the D.A. alleges. Chambers is accused of resigning from the COC later that month and is accused of paying back approximately $2,500 of the $129,000 to the victims.

The theft was reported to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, which investigated this case. 

— City News Service