VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. — A Thousand Oaks man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzling more than $3.2 million from a local family-owned business.
Jason Randall Eil, 40, pleaded guilty on December 30, 2025, to seven counts of grand theft and several special allegations, including aggravated white-collar crime for taking more than $500,000, exploiting a position of trust, and engaging in a sophisticated fraudulent scheme, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Eil worked as the full-time controller for Reid Witlin Ltd., a small textile company, from 2011 to 2024. Between 2016 and 2024, he allegedly stole $20,000 to $30,000 per month, court documents stated.
To carry out the scheme, Eil created a fake business with a name similar to Reid Witlin Ltd. and opened two bank accounts under that name. He then diverted customer payments into those accounts over several years, while manipulating company records to avoid detection.
On February 11, 2026, Eil was sentenced to eight years in state prison for his crimes. Ventura County District Attorney Marc Leventhal, who prosecuted the case, said:
“Mr. Eil manipulated his employers into believing he was loyal and trustworthy, which caused them not to supervise or audit him with sufficient care. His crimes are a lesson to all businesses to set up and follow procedures to prevent a rogue employee from taking advantage of them.”
The case highlights the importance of internal audits and oversight for small businesses to safeguard against employee fraud.
