Auditors and police investigators at the University of California, Davis, have determined that a campus accounting clerk fraudulently obtained employee credit cards and embezzled several thousands of dollars in campus funds over a five-month period.

The employee, Linda Serna, has been placed on leave without pay, and the campus is following personnel policy regarding any further actions. Serna was arrested by UC Davis police on July 10 at a Vacaville residence and charged with felony counts of identity theft, embezzlement and grand theft. She admitted her guilt to investigators and will be arraigned in Yolo County Superior Court on Friday, Aug. 15.

Serna, who was responsible for processing UC Davis travel credit card payments, apparently used the identities of three former UC Davis employees to falsify campus credit card applications. The employee used the cards to obtain cash advances. Serna then falsified accounting records so that the card balances were paid through university funds.

The fraud came to light when Serna was on a leave and inconsistencies in credit card bills were discovered in the campus accounts payable department. The campus Audit and Management Advisory Services office conducted an investigation in June and July in conjunction with police investigators, culminating in the arrest on July 10. The audit found that fraudulent activity occurred between November 2002 and March 2003.

UC Davis has placed a hold on Serna's financial assets and expects to recover all of the lost funds. The criminal investigation is continuing.