Gavel. Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash
LOGAN — A warrant has been issued for a 38-year-old Layton woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a Logan company, according to law enforcement. Chelsie Nicole Candia is suspected of taking approximately $50,000 while employed with the rental property management company two years ago.
Candia was scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 11, in Logan’s 1st District Court but did not appear. She had been charged with deception, communications fraud, and money laundering, all second-degree felonies.
According to court documents, Logan City Police officers were contacted by a regional manager of the property company in March 2022. He claimed Candia had taken tenant’s rent payments and fees for parking stall passes while she was supposed to be overseeing multiple apartment complexes.
Several tenants claimed Candia had moved them into vacant apartments and would have them pay their rent directly to her. Another tenant explained how he had purchased a parking stall pass from the suspect but his vehicle was still towed.
The company had launched their own internal investigation after receiving multiple complaints. Additional tenants claimed they had paid Candia either through various mobile apps or a bank account that was registered to the suspect’s cousin, the arrest affidavit detailed.
Police interviewed the suspect’s family member. She claimed Candia had asked to use the account while her company set up its own rent collection app.
Officers attempted to contact Candia several times unsuccessfully. They eventually spoke to her by phone and learned that she was living in Colorado. She agreed to arrange a meeting with officers but then stopped answering their future phone calls.
After Candia failed to appear in court on Sept. 11, Judge Spencer Walsh issued a warrant for her arrest. The affidavit instructed law enforcement to hold the suspect on $30,000, if she is located.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.