LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — Rebecca Buehler, the former Controller and CFO of a Laguna Beach-based furniture manufacturer, has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $300,000 from the company over a two-year period.
According to the police report, Buehler, who was hired in 2018, diverted company funds into her personal accounts to finance her lavish lifestyle. These stolen funds were used to purchase luxury handbags, alcohol, and a luxury SUV.
The financial fraud was uncovered when the business owner, who had built the company over two decades, attempted to close the business in 2024. Upon reviewing the bank accounts, a significant discrepancy was discovered, prompting an investigation.
A forensic examination revealed the extent of Buehler’s theft, leading to the filing of seven felony counts of grand theft against her by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The charges include an enhancement for theft exceeding $100,000.
The Laguna Beach Police Department located Buehler in Redondo Beach, California, where she was arrested and booked at Orange County Jail. The investigation is ongoing, and Buehler remains in custody awaiting trial.