On April 2nd, 2021, a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy was contacted by personnel from Lake County Social Services regarding the theft of debit cards from one of their offices. The debit cards were ones that had been issued as part of the Economic Impact Payments to individuals who were under conservatorship with Social Services. Each debit card had a value of $600. A total of twenty one stimulus debit cards were reported missing.
During the investigation it was determined Susan Marlowe, 44, of Lakeport, a former employee of Social Services, had access to the debit cards. Marlowe had been the Deputy Public Guardian/ Deputy Public Administrator for Lake County Adult Protective Services. Her employment with Lake County ended on March 10th, 2021.
During the investigation into the stolen debit cards, personnel from Lake County Social Services found suspicious activity in the bank account of a Lake County resident who was under conservatorship. Susan Marlowe was the Deputy Public Guardian/ Deputy Public Administrator who managed the conservatee.
The case was assigned to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crime Unit. Detectives contacted the Lake County Department of Social Services who assisted with the investigation. Multiple search warrants were authored to obtain business records and bank records which were related to the investigation. A detailed examination of bank records located four large withdrawals from the conservatee’s bank account. Additional records were obtained through a search warrants which showed the four withdrawals were used to make payments to a personal loan belonging to Marlowe. The payments totaled approximately $5,800.
On June 10th, 2021, a search warrant was served at Marlowe’s residence in Finley. Marlowe was contacted and interviewed. During the interview Marlowe admitted to using between six and ten of the debit cards for her personal use. She also admitted to using the conservatee’s bank account to make payments on her loan.
The investigation continued and additional business and bank records were sought. Upon the receipt of the additional records, it was determined that Marlowe was responsible for three additional withdrawals from the conservatee’s bank account in December of 2019; totaling approximately $6,600. The withdrawals were the result of three fake invoices that Marlowe created for home repairs to the conservatees residence which did not occur.
The case was forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for review. The case was filed with the Lake County Superior Court and an arrest warrant for Marlowe was issued with a bail of $50,000.00. Detectives attempted to arrest Marlowe on the warrant, but determined she was out of state. On August 24th, Marlowe surrendered herself at the Lake County Superior Court and the arrest warrant was recalled. Marlowe was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear at the Lake County Superior Courthouse on October 8th, 2021.
It is suspected that Marlowe is responsible for the theft of all of the debit cards. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact Detective Todd Dunia at 707-262-4232 or Todd.Dunia@lakecountyca.gov.
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