Desert Hot Springs man arrested for suspected embezzlement of over $300,000 from Mojave Desert Land Trust

Luis Medina A Desert Hot Springs man has been arrested after being accused of embezzling more than $300,000 from his former employer, the Mojave Desert Land Trust. Ernesto Jose Frias Ybarra, 45, was arrested Wednesday. He has been charged with 23 counts of embezzlement with an enhancement for aggravated white-collar felony and 20 counts of money laundering. Ybarra’s arrest came after staff at the Mojave Desert Land Trust, a nonprofit that perman…

Desert Hot Springs man arrested for suspected embezzlement of over $300,000 from Mojave Desert Land Trust

An arrest has been made in the investigation of the embezzlement of more than $300,000 from the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT). Ernesto Jose Frias Ybarra, 45. Photo provided by Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Department The Sheriff’s Department said that based on information provided by MDLT staff, they have been investigating fraudulently-written checks possibly written by a former MDLT employee. The Sheriff’s department identified the suspect as Ern…