Contact : Howard A. Wise, Sr. Deputy District Attorney

(805) 662-1736

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Randi Lynn Deason (D.O.B. 11/13/74), a resident of Ojai, was sentenced to serve 150 days in jail and placed on felony probation for 48 months. Ventura County Superior Court Judge Edward Brodie sentenced Deason after she was convicted of one count of felony grand theft and one count of forgery relating to her embezzlement from Washington Mutual Bank in Ojai. This matter was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

Deason, a 12-year employee at the bank, victimized former friends by accessing their Washington Mutual accounts and making withdrawals. Deason then printed cashier's checks made payable to herself. In another instance, the victims gave Deason $109,000 to deposit into their account but only $103,000 was deposited. Deason took the other $6, 000. From February 2005 to June 2006, Deason stole from the victims a total loss of $46,545. The bank also credited the victims' accounts for more than $4,000 in fees they incurred due to the thefts. After she was caught, Deason paid the victims back the money she stole from them and paid the bank for the fees it had to reverse.

The issue of whether additional restitution is owed was left open and may be determined at a later time.