Calistoga Bookkeeper Embezzles 250K from Elder Woman

A self-employed bookkeeper from Calistoga on Friday admitted embezzling more than $250,000 from an elderly Yolo County woman who operated a bed and breakfast in St. Helena, according to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.

Denise Conophy also pleaded guilty to elder abuse and tax evasion and agreed to forfeit more than $300,000 in cash and property to pay restitution to the victim, Jonathan Raven, chief deputy district attorney said in a news release.

Conophy, 51, had been hired to handle the victim’s bookkeeping and financial affairs related to a bed and breakfast in St. Helena, Raven said in the statement.

Instead, Conophy, transferred the victim’s assets to other accounts to pay her own bills, the prosecutor said.

The crimes were committed after the victim fell ill and relatives discovered that the woman’s assets had been depleted, authorities said.

In April, a spokesman for the California Franchise Tax Board, one of the investigating agencies, said Conophy allegedly used the money to pay personal bills, buy rental property in Santa Rosa and vacation property in Oregon. During the investigation, the Franchise Tax Board discovered that Conophy allegedly failed to file state income tax returns for eight years and failed to report the stolen funds as income, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office said.

Yolo County Superior Court Judge Janet Gaard is scheduled to sentence Conophy on March 8 in Yolo County Superior Court in Woodland.

Prosecutors on April 14 charged Conophy with alleged embezzlement, elder abuse, money laundering and tax evasion, court documents show.

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