Denise Franks

An executive for a Traver agricultural marketing business has been arrested on suspicion of having embezzled $330,000 from the company.

Denise Franks, vice president for the past 19 years of Best Agri Marketing, was arrested Tuesday at her vacation home in Morro Bay by Tulare County Sheriff’s deputies, who transported her back to the Valley and booked her into the county’s Adult Pre-Trial Facility north of Visalia on $75,000 bail.

She had become the focus of an investigation that began on Sept 23, 2019, when Best Agri Marketing officials reported someone had embezzled money from the company.

The business describes itself on its website as “a San Joaquin Valley leader in merchandising and marketing of on-farm products and services for dairy cattle and calves in Central California.”

A press release from the Sheriff’s Department issued Tuesday night didn’t indicate the manner in which the money was taken or how investigators linked Franks to the embezzling that reportedly occurred over four years.

Earlier in the day Tuesday, deputies served a search warrant on Franks’ home at an undisclosed local location while she was away at her vacation home, the press release states.

“With help from the Morro Bay Police Department, Franks was detained at the home in Morro Bay. TCSO Ag Detectives went to Morro Bay and arrested franks for embezzlement, grand theft and identity theft.”

Anyone with more information on this case is asked to call Detective A. Ellis with the sheriff’s Ag Crimes Unit at 800-808-0488 or provide a tip anonymously online at tcso@tipnow.com. Tips also can be provided via text or voicemail at 559-725-4194.