Former Publishing Exec Guilty of $1.3M Embezzlement from Beverly Hills Firm

Kimberly Ann Miletta, former president of Phoenix Books, was found guilty of wire fraud for embezzling over $1.3M.Photo byDavid VivesonUnsplash

A Ventura County woman has been found guilty of embezzling at least $1.3 million from a Beverly Hills-based independent publishing company, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California announced Tuesday.

Kimberly Ann Miletta, 51, was convicted on three counts of wire fraud following a five-day trial.

Miletta, the former president of Phoenix Books, a well-known independent book and audio publisher, used her position from 2009 to 2018 to access company finances.

Instead of using company funds for legitimate business expenses, she misappropriated the money for her personal use, including spa treatments, designer handbags, and years of veterinary bills, according to the DOJ.

Evidence presented during the trial showed that from October 2013 to January 2018, Miletta embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars by using a company credit card for personal expenses.

She then paid off the credit card bills using the personal bank account of the company’s owner, referred to in court documents as "J.O." More than $185,000 of those purchases were made at high-end clothing and department stores.

Miletta also transferred nearly $1 million from the company owner’s personal account to purchase a luxury ocean-view home in Ventura. In total, Miletta's fraudulent activities spanned years and drained significant resources from the company, according to the DOJ.

Miletta was acquitted of two additional counts of wire fraud.

She now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count. Sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong.

The FBI led the investigation that resulted in Miletta’s conviction.