SOUTH FORK—Owners Howard and Carole Fleming with the Rainbow Grocery Store in South Fork are undergoing court proceedings stemming from learning that two long-term employees embezzled a staggering $225,000 from their finances over a three-year period.
Matilee and Aaron Brown have been charged with felony embezzlement and theft as of Sept. 25 during a court proceeding where they waived their right to a preliminary hearing and will move forward in the next couple of weeks.
According to sources, Matilee Brown worked for the Blimpy Gas Station for an estimated seven years before requesting to be transferred to the office in the Rainbow Grocery Store and proceeded to allegedly embezzle funds, a little at a time with her husband Aaron. When the Flemings became aware of the missing money, they contacted law enforcement in South Fork, to which there was no response. It wasn’t until current Police Chief Don McDonald was made aware of the case, that action was taken against the two suspects, who are now in custody.
Carole Fleming explained that when they made a decision to help a family member pay for college, they became aware of the missing funds and made a complaint to local law enforcement which was ignored. Chief McDonald took the case over when he was hired and proceeded to investigate until the Browns were in custody. “We know that we may not get anything out of this other than to caution other people that we will prosecute to the full extent of the law,” said Fleming.
Fleming continued to state that when nothing was done after the first complaint, the owners decided to hire a private detective who compiled a case against the suspects and then turned it over to McDonald. The two suspects have since divorced and after waiving their rights to a preliminary hearing were bound over to district court that which be held in Del Norte.
Though the case began in 2014, it is only now that the Flemings felt the need to share their story. “We want people to know that our intentions are not to get pity, but to caution people against theft and to share our story with others that are experiencing a similar situation. They (the Browns) may have ruined their lives over $225,000,” stated Fleming.
The grocery store is the only one of its kind for 20 miles and has been a staple in the community for many years. Fleming stated that she and her husband have absorbed the theft and managed to deal with the loss in the best way they know how. More information will be reported as it comes available.