PINE COVE: Market employee accused of embezzling $100K, arrested

PINE COVE –A man who officials allege embezzled as much as $100,000 from a small market and gas station was arrested after an investigation revealed the alleged suspect regularly used the business’ cash register and ATM to funnel money from the market and into his own pockets.

The embezzlement, which officials say took place over an eight-month period, happened at the Pine Cove Market at 23235 Highway 243, in the unincorporated mountain community of Pine Cove.

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Vincent Gillman was arrested after officials determined he had embezzled as much as $100,000 from a market where he was employed. RSO photo

After an investigation, officials arrested Vincent Daniel Gillman, 50, of Pine Cove, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Ken Reichle explained after the man’s arrest. He was booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional in Banning on suspicion of embezzlement and second degree burglary. Both are felony charges.

The investigation began earlier this month when officials assigned to the sheriff’s Hemet Station received a complaint about “an abnormally large amount of money” missing from business that could not be accounted for, said Reichle.

During their investigation, authorities learned Gillman, identified as an attendant at the market, “had been stealing cash from the register and ATM machine on a routine basis,” Reichle explained.

Jail records indicate Gillman remains in custody on $85,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center, June 19.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Hemet Station Investigation’s Bureau at (951) 791-3400. Callers can refer to incident file number D181380043 and remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.