CEDAR CITY – Police arrested a Cedar City business owner and his wife last week following an investigation that showed the couple had allegedly scammed more than $30,000 from the business.
Roger Deamer, 71, and Mirna Consuelo Najarro Deamer, 40, are currently facing a second-degree felony theft charge in connection with a string of thefts involving his business, Rocky Mountain Furniture located at 174 West 200 north. The couple was arrested on the allegations Wednesday.
According to charging documents filed in 5th District Court Wednesday, the alleged victim in the case is the co-owner of the business who alleges Roger Deamer has taken thousands of dollars from both her personal funds and the business.
A separate civil complaint filed December 13, by the victim against Roger Deamer shows the two separated in 2014. At that time, the court awarded each party 50 percent of the business.
“This included all aspects of the business, real property where the business was conducted, assets, accounts receivable, and any other benefit owned or operated by the business,” court records state.
However, financial documents from State Bank of Southern Utah indicate that one point Deamer removed the victim’s name from the business account, denying her any access to the account information.
He then reportedly paid himself more than his allotted share multiple times, Cedar City Det. Mike Bleak wrote in his report.
“There is one month where Deamer is paid over $15,000 more than the agreed amount,” Bleak said. “There are also multiple examples where Deamer takes cash from the cash drawer and pockets it.”
Surveillance cameras installed in the store by the alleged victim after she noticed money was missing allegedly showed Roger Deamer removing money and accounting slips on multiple occasions, court documents said.
According to Bleak’s report, video footage also shows Mirna Deamer, “running interference,” for her husband.
“She will intercept an incoming employee or customer and distract them while Roger pockets the money,” Bleak said.
The footage then shows the couple meet in a different part of the store where he hands her the money to put in her purse before the two left the building.
A search warrant for the Deamer residence found incidents where funds had been diverted in to personal bank account belonging to the wife at Wells Fargo, Bleak said.
The legal business contract between the victim and Roger Deamer reportedly prohibits Mirna Deamer from receiving any payment from the business since she has no financial interest and is an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, the court records state.
Authorities said they believe Mirna Deamer is involved in assisting her husband take more than $30,000 from the business and the co-owner.
The couple were booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on Wednesday and were later released after each of them posted $10,000 bail.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @tracie_sullivan
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
What is that saying? “No fool, like an old fool?”
Lets see now, he is 71 and she is 40.
Nope, nothing wrong with this picture. Nothing at all. SMH
31 years age difference. hmmmmmmm gross.
This is absolutely tragic news and sad hopefully by getting arrested they will be able to turn their lives around
It’s terrible that this woman married a scheming old man. It would’ve been much better if she had married a drug dealer her own age. RME
RME?