News Release Contact: Kimberly J. Evans 555 Wright Way Carson City, Nevada 89711 Office: (775) 684-4554 Pager: (775) 861-5897

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 1999

NEWS FROM: Nevada Division of Investigation 99-188

Former Pershing County Regional Planning Commission Member and Daughter
Arrested for Embezzlement

Employees of Lovelock agricultural products company arrested on felony embezzlement charges

Former Pershing County Regional Planning Commission member Bonnie Sublett was arrested by investigators from the Nevada Division of Investigation on December 10, 1999 in Alameda, California. Sublett was arrested on six felony counts of embezzlement, one felony count of obtaining monies under false pretense and one felony count of unlawful acts involving mobile telephone service.

The charges stem from two investigations conducted by the Nevada Division of Investigation involving the six embezzlement charges which are a result of Sublett's employment as office manager for Landview Fertilizer, formerly Ricardo's Agricultural Products. Ricardo's Agricultural Products is a Lovelock -based company owned by Ricardo Arias. The other two charges are a result of Sublett fraudulently obtaining cellular telephone service using the account of Lovelock resident, Miguel Salgado.

Also arrested was Sublett's daughter, Dawn Mendez. Mendez is also a former employee of Ricardo's Agricultural Products, and is charged with four felony counts of embezzlement and two felony counts of the fraudulent use of a credit card as a result of her employment at this company. Mendez was arrested by investigators on December 11, 1999 at her place of employment in Citrus Heights, California.

Laura Flores, another former employee of Ricardo's Agricultural Products, was arrested on June 11, 1999 on five felony counts of embezzlement and one felony count of the fraudulent use of a credit card. Flores became office manager after Sublett left the employment of Ricardo's Agricultural Products. On October 12, 1999, Flores entered a nolo contendere plea in the Sixth Judicial Court to two gross misdemeanor counts of Conspiracy to Commit Embezzlement.

The Nevada Division of Investigation, a Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, assists local law enforcement jurisdictions in criminal investigations.

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