Oxnard woman sentenced to prison for embezzling from theatre group

VENTURA, California – Mary Marlene Urias of Oxnard has been sentenced to 7 years and four months in state prison for embezzling over $100,000 from 5-Star Theatricals in Thousand Oaks.

Urias was also sentenced for violating her probation terms on two prior embezzlement convictions.

From June 2016 through February 2020, Urias was the office manager for 5-Star Theatricals. During her time there, she embezzled approximately $134,236 by writing fraudulent checks and stealing cash.

She covered her tracks by manipulating the victim’s accounting system.

Urias used some of the money she stole from 5-Star Theatricals to pay court-ordered restitution to victims of her previous thefts. Urias was eventually terminated by 5-Start Theatricals when the thefts were discovered.

She then applied for unemployment insurance, claiming she was laid off due to lack of work. Despite 5-Star Theatricals contesting the reason for Urias’s unemployment, she was paid more than $7,200 in employment benefits.

In April 2020, Urias was arrested in Thousand Oaks after a month long investigation by the East County Investigations Bureau and Forgery Fraud Unit.

In July 2020, Urias pled guilty to multiple felonies including grand theft, presenting false documentary evidence to a court, identity theft, and one
count of unemployment insurance fraud.