SANTA ANA – (INT) - A Corona woman charged with embezzling more than half million dollars from her employer pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday.

Kristina Marie Hosea, 44, admitted a single count of wire fraud in US District Court in Santa Ana.

Hosea was the assistant to the president of Advanced Real Estate Services (ARES) in Irvine. In that position, she was responsible for reviewing and approving invoices and preparing checks to be signed by the company president.

Beginning in 2008, Hosea operated a scheme to defraud ARES by conducting transfers and cashing at least 100 checks drawn on ARES’ bank account payable to her or others for non-business related expenses.

Story Date: April 19, 2015