A tax preparer with an office in Watsonville is suspected of embezzling money from at least three businesses that he worked with, authorities reported Tuesday.
The 34-year-old South County resident is the subject of investigations in two counties. The most recent allegations, which surfaced Monday, accuse him of stealing more than a half-million from a San Jose tour company since March, according to Watsonville police Sgt. Saul Gonzalez.
"Basically what this guy was doing is he's a tax preparer," Gonzalez said. "Instead of paying the businesses taxes he pockets the money."
The tax preparer, who has an office on Rio Del Pajaro Court, already was facing charges in San Benito County and for allegedly stealing from a Watsonville company when the new allegations came to light. Gonzalez said detectives are working to link the cases together and bring the case to court.
He has not been arrested.
Gonzalez declined to name the man, but police records listed his name as Jason Haas.
Haas is named as the sales manager for San Jose and the surrounding areas on the website for Payroll Management Group.
Haas has a tentative court date set for Oct. 17, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported. The newspaper also reported that Haas was accused of embezzling from a San Jose restaurant in 2011.
