Woman suspected of embezzling $1 million dollars from Menlo Park landscaping firm is arrested

Menlo Park Police detectives and officers arrested Shannon Cardenas, 39, of San Mateo, today at her place of employment in Redwood City. She is suspected of embezzling over $1 million from the Menlo Park business, Creekside Landscaping, Inc., over a span of two years.

Cardenas was hired to work at Creekside Landscaping, Inc. as the office manager for the company in March, 2013 and resigned from the company in March, 2015. The suspected embezzlement of funds was brought to the attention of the company’s owners after they took over payroll, bill payment, and reconciling credit accounts and bank statements.

Cardenas is alleged to have fraudulently written and signed company checks to give her overtime and bonuses and to pay her rent. She also allegedly used company credit cards to purchase and pay for personal items to include trips, vehicles, and a multitude of other personal expenses.

Cardenas was booked into San Mateo County jail for embezzlement. The case has been forwarded to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.