A Hughson woman is facing a litany of criminal charges of allegations she embezzled more than $1 million over the course of a couple years.
Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero announced that Lana Casey, 62, of Hughson, was indicted on 79 counts of grand theft, money laundering, and tax evasion with special allegations of aggravated white-collar crime and taking advantage of a position of trust. The grand jury was presented evidence over three days by the District Attorney’s Office before returning the indictment.
Shortly after the indictment was returned, investigators with the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office arrested Casey. Casey is currently being held in custody on $1.455 million bail with an order that she not be released on bail without first establishing a legitimate source for any bail posted.
The indictment relates to allegations that Casey fraudulently obtained approximately $214,000 from non-profit organizations serving the Oak Valley District Hospital in Oakdale by drafting herself and others checks from accounts belonging to the non-profit organizations. Casey is also alleged to have written checks to a mortgage company as well as a company that sold pool fencing.
Further, it is alleged that after taking money from the non-profits, Casey went on to take money from trusts associated with Carolyn W. Reynolds. A thorough forensic audit by the California Franchise Tax Board determined that Casey has $1.453 million in unreported income between 2018 and 2021 and determined that approximately $1.211 million of that income was embezzled.
It is also alleged that Casey illegally laundered the money by conducting transactions through financial institutions and felony tax evasion. Under state and federal law, individuals must pay money on earnings whether lawfully or unlawfully obtained.
This case was investigated by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, the Oakdale Police Department, the California Franchise Tax Board, and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation.
