24 Palm Desert Walmart employees arrested, accused of loading gift cards fraudulently

Two dozen Palm Desert Walmart employees were arrested Wednesday in connection with allegations that, during a two-week period in September, they embezzled money from the store via gift cards.

On Nov. 2, the Palm Desert Business District Team, according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, received information about an embezzlement scheme at the Walmart, 34500 Monterey Ave., in Palm Desert.

Overall, 24 suspects are accused of loading money onto Walmart gift cards by using a fraudulent coupon code, authorities said, adding that more than 1,000 unauthorized transactions were made from Sept. 7-18.

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Twenty-two of the suspects were arrested.

Fifteen were detained at the Riverside County Jail in Indio on suspicion of embezzlement and conspiracy charges:

Lidia Estrada, 33-year-old resident of Palm Springs

Daniel Gonzalez, 41-year-old resident of Palm Desert

Marianne Calizo, 21-year-old resident of Palm Desert

Maria Zelaya, 26-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs

Imauny Marshall, 19-year-old resident of Cathedral City

Carol Collins, 49-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs

Noemi Zelaya, 29-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs

Maria Contreras, 42-year-old resident of La Quinta

Ariadna Mayorga, 21-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs

Alicia Herrera, 53-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs

Miguel Esteban, 25-year-old resident of Bermuda Dunes

Roberto Luna, 29-year-old resident of La Quinta

Selene Melchor-Molina, 31-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs

Amy Vasquez, 31-year-old resident of La Quinta

Edwin Rios, 19-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs

Six suspects have been released, pending further investigation.

The investigation also recovered items believed to have been bought by the suspects using the fraudulent Walmart gift cards, officials said.

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