Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $1.6 Million

A Petaluma woman pleaded guilty Tuesday in Marin County Superior Court to embezzling almost $1.6 million from her former San Rafael employer.

Jodi Michele Azevedo, 44, faces six years in prison as part of a plea agreement when she is sentenced on Feb. 20, defense attorney Richard Scott said.  He said 46 embezzlement counts will be dismissed at the sentencing.

Azevedo, who pleaded guilty to two of the counts, faced 41 years in prison if convicted of all of the charges, Scott said.

Azevedo worked as a controller for the San Rafael law firm Plastiras and Terrizzi and its real estate brokerage and management company, Parkway Properties Investment Corp., for 14 years, Scott said.

The embezzlement occurred over a 10-year period, he said.

Scott said Azevedo wrote checks to herself from the business account.

"She never entered a not-guilty plea," Scott said. "She wanted to take responsibility as soon as possible and is very remorseful," Scott said.

Azevedo delayed pleading guilty until the exact amount of the embezzlement had been determined, Scott said.

Judge Kelly Simmons ordered Azevedo to pay $1,570,134 in restitution to the law and real estate firms, Scott said.

Azevedo was arrested in October but posted $1 million bail and was released from custody.

--Bay City News Service

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