The Santa Barbara County District Attorney is filing charges against a resident for stealing more than $1 million

SANTA BARBARA, CA. Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced today in a news release that Stefan Bernard DeWitt, 38, of Santa Barbara, has been charged with multiple counts of financial fraud.

Crime Complaint People v. Stefan Bernard DeWittdetails that between May 1, 2021 and July 31, 2023, DeWitt stole more than $1 million from three different individuals.

Crimes were committed through forgery and embezzlement in various forms. According to the complaint, DeWitt falsified or altered various documents, including property deeds, trusts and shareholder agreements, with the intent to defraud Carolina DeWitt, Tanya DeWitt and California Pacific Reality.

In addition, the 38-year-old committed crimes related to the violation of security regulations because he misappropriated more than $200,000 by creating a fake company called “Better Futures Fund IV/Green Triangle Corp.”

The complaint lists fraudulent credit and debit transactions made by Dewitte in the spring of 2022 to the Wells Fargo account.

DeWitt is charged with 49 counts, including embezzlement, forgery, theft by false pretenses, securities fraud and 37 counts of money laundering.

DeWitt is also charged with aggravated felony enhancement for allegedly receiving more than $500,000 and three special counts of laundering more than $50,000 within a 30-day period.

DeWitt is being held on $800,000 bond in the Santa Barbara County Jail. His case is set for a plea hearing on November 4, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.