‘Most wonderful workplace manager ever’ accused of embezzling from 3 Las Vegas dentists

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — An office environment manager, accused of embezzling hundreds of hundreds of bucks from a dental business, stole income from two other Las Vegas dentists while awaiting demo, courtroom paperwork obtained by the 8 News Now I-Team stated.

Danielle Powers, 42, is charged with six counts of theft and five counts of embezzlement. In all, she is accused of thieving revenue while functioning for a few dental methods throughout the Las Vegas valley.

Dr. Deborah Staten, the operator of Desert Hills Dental on Fort Apache Street in close proximity to Russell Street, hired Powers in 2014.

“It’s so simple to interview anyone and then place them in that place of believe in,” Staten reported.

A online video on the dental practice’s Facebook web site shared with the I-Staff attributes Powers saying, “Our aim right here at Desert Hills Dental is always to make your dentistry inexpensive.” A further submit celebrates Powers’ birthday, calling her “the most incredible office manager ever.”

“I experienced much too a lot belief in a single human being who pretty much practically sunk my ship,” Staten mentioned.

Powers is accused of thieving hundreds of 1000’s of bucks from Desert Hills Dental over a 5-12 months span, courtroom files mentioned. Evidence in that felony situation involves surveillance video clip, which prosecutors mentioned displays Powers coming again to operate and taking $7,000 left on her desk.

“It’s quite hurtful. It’s really hurtful. The level of deceit is just heart-wrenching,” Staten said.

Desert Hill Dental fired Powers in 2019.

In April 2021, a dentist at Smile Vegas Dental on Blue Diamond Street in the vicinity of Durango Drive told police Powers experienced stolen extra than $10,000 from his business enterprise, law enforcement mentioned. The owner and dentist at the exercise claimed he employed Powers in June 2020.

The dentist turned suspicious right after Powers “was adamant” about not appearing on the practice’s internet site and about not choosing any additional business office team. The dentist hired a non-public investigator who identified Powers was dealing with costs for embezzling from Desert Hill Dental, law enforcement said.

“[The private investigator] located Powers stole money paid out by people and under no circumstances recorded the payment to the billing computer software, leaving sufferers with balances that they did not owe,” law enforcement mentioned. “In other instances, Powers tried to conceal the theft by use of deceptive entries in the software program.”

In their report, police reference extra surveillance online video, which they explained confirmed Powers having $300 from a individual and hiding “it underneath a stack of clipboards,” they stated.

In November 2020, Powers instructed the dentist she wanted a working day off for the looking at of her grandmother’s will. In reality, she experienced a listening to in the Desert Hills Dental embezzlement scenario, police said.

“Her grandmother has died numerous times,” Staten mentioned.

In November 2021, a 3rd dentist filed a report with law enforcement, declaring she as well was a victim. That dentist hired Powers in September 2021 and claimed $3,600 was lacking.

“Defendant has manufactured a mockery of this court and her launch circumstances by continuing to have interaction in the extremely conduct she is accused of in the instant situation,” prosecutors wrote in courtroom documents submitted previously this calendar year, inquiring a judge to maintain her with no bail. “She continues to harm enterprise proprietors in our local community by working with their business enterprise as her individual slush fund.”

Officers arrested Powers exterior of her residence past week after she skipped courtroom in February.

“Were you shocked when this transpired not only a next time but now a 3rd time?” the I-Team’s David Charns asked Staten.

“It’s a tough crime to prosecute,” she mentioned. “It’s quite hard to get as a result of the program lawfully.”

In court docket Tuesday, Powers requested Decide Michael Villani to release her from jail pending demo.

“I designed some lousy decisions to get myself listed here, I concur to that,” Powers explained to Villani.

Villani noted Powers’ Tuesday hearing was on a bench warrant for skipping a listening to and told her to file the suitable paperwork with the court.

Staten warned all dentists to do their research simply because entrusting the human being working their enterprise.

“It’s so significant to do a background look at,” Staten mentioned. “If anybody’s likely to be sitting down and counting your revenue or dealing with income in the business there should really be a comprehensive track record check done.”

“Have you talked to her considering that?” Charns questioned Staten.

“No. No. I feel about it at the time in a while, but no. I would not have anything great to say,” Staten mentioned.

She gained a civil scenario towards Powers, exactly where a judge requested her to pay again the stolen dollars.

In her two legal conditions, Powers had pleaded not guilty. She has not officially been billed in the 3rd embezzlement case.