Adriana Guadalupe Villanueva, 44, appeared in Yakima County Superior Court on August 20, 2025, facing multiple charges of theft and identity theft after allegedly embezzling nearly $850,000 from the Yakima law firm where she worked as a bookkeeper.
Villanueva, a resident of Toppenish, was arrested on a warrant issued in January, charging her with five counts each of first- and second-degree theft, four counts of first-degree identity theft, and three counts of second-degree identity theft.
According to Yakima police, Villanueva stole funds intended as down payments from clients of Talbott Law Firm. She is also accused of writing unauthorized checks to herself, her sisters, and a company that installed air conditioning in her home.
Jerry Talbott, owner of the law firm, told police he received an anonymous letter in August 2023 claiming Villanueva was stealing thousands weekly and boasting she wouldn’t be caught since she handled the firm’s books alone. Following this tip, Talbott hired a retired bookkeeper to audit the firm’s finances and placed Villanueva on administrative leave in September before reporting the matter to police.
The audit uncovered that Villanueva’s reported income rose dramatically from $41,350 in 2019 to over $106,000 in 2021, with unauthorized raises totaling nearly $169,000. Additionally, the audit revealed Villanueva failed to deposit over $720,000 paid by clients, leading to a total theft estimate of $845,959.80.
At her preliminary hearing, Deputy Prosecutor JP Schroeder requested that Villanueva’s $500,000 bail remain due to the large sum stolen and the delay in bringing her to court. Villanueva’s public defender, Jewel Christensen, argued for release under court supervision, citing Villanueva’s strong family ties and lack of prior criminal history.
Judge Jared Boswell ultimately set bail at $50,000, citing concerns about public safety and court appearance risks. Villanueva has since posted bond and been released under supervision.
