Laguna Beach police Det. Jordan Mirakian, who investigated the case, said one of the most troubling aspects of the situation was how Mulder got people to trust her before she betrayed them.

A former Laguna Beach resident who authorities say befriended small-business owners and stole more than $1.5 million from them was sentenced Monday to more than five years in federal prison.

LAGUNA BEACH A 34-year-old woman who said she was an accountant with a degree from Pepperdine University is accused of embezzling $1.5 million from five Orange County businesses and using the ...