A Bakersfield woman is under investigation on allegations of embezzling more than $350,000 of insurance premiums from local members of the Service Employees International Union.
Brandi Marcella Madewell told Bakersfield Police detectives she took the money to pay Internet gambling debts, investigative documents indicate.
Calls to Madewell's listed phone number were not answered Tuesday.
The Kern County Public Employee's Insurance Agency, doing business as Valley Benefits Inc, is an organization founded by members of the Kern County Public Employees Association in the late 1980s.
Today, Valley Benefits offers insurance to all members of SEIU Local 521. Members can buy casualty, life and disability insurance through Valley Benefits, and all commissions go back to the insurance agency to benefit the members.
In late February Madewell was placed on administrative leave amid reports from vendors they were not being paid, SEIU spokeswoman Khanh T. Weinberg said.
The union notified the Bakersfield Police Department, which started an investigation.
Madewell apologized to union officials for the theft, according to documents filed by detectives with the Superior Court.
"I interviewed Madewell on two occasions and she admitted to the embezzlement," Det. Jeff Watts also wrote in the report.
The investigation was submitted to the District Attorney's office Friday or Monday, Sgt. Mary DeGeare said Tuesday.
The case could result in grand theft charges, she said.
The union took over operations of the insurance agency in February and loaned Valley Benefits money to ensure all premiums were paid.
There has been no effect on members participating in Valley Benefits or their insurance coverage, Weinberg said, noting the union was working to notify employees of the theft.
