Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Truck Rental Company’s Secretary Convicted of Embezzling Over $140,000

Beverly Joan Winter, 59, former secretary for Five Star Water Truck Rental Inc. in Anaheim, Calif., pleaded guilty to 34 felony counts of forgery and 34 felony counts of falsifying records.

by Staff
June 16, 2010
2 min to read


A truck rental company secretary was convicted June 7 of embezzling over $140,000 by writing company checks to herself and falsifying business financial records, according ot the Orange County (Calif.) District Attorney's office. 

Beverly Joan Winter, 59, Tustin, pleaded guilty to a court offer to 34 felony counts of forgery and 34 felony counts of falsifying records with sentencing enhancements and allegations for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, loss over $100,000, and property damage over $65,000.

Ad Loading...

She was sentenced to one year in jail, five years of probation, and ordered to pay full restitution. The People objected to the court's offer, advocating for a sentence of three years in state prison based on Winter's criminal record, violation of trust, amount of theft, and number of violations.

In early 2005, Winter began working as secretary for David Linskens, owner of Five Star Water Truck Rental Inc. in Anaheim, Calif. Five Star provides water trucks and licensed operators to companies that require a water source for large scale construction projects.  As company secretary, Winter was responsible for managing the company's finances and had access and control over the company's bank account, checks and financial records.

Between June 29, 2005, and July 28, 2008, Winter forged over 130 company checks, making them payable to herself, and deposited them into her personal bank account. She wrote herself checks amounting to more than $140,000 without the knowledge or consent of Linskens. In order to conceal the theft, Winter falsified the company's financial records by altering the payee to reflect a legitimate business or individual with whom the company did business.  

In early September 2008, the bank contacted Linskens to inform him that Five Star's account had been overdrawn. Upon comparing the company's bank account statements and accounting records, Linskens discovered several financial inconsistencies and contacted the police.

Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche of the major fraud unit prosecuted this case.

More Rental Operations

Two execs hold up a sign with Southwest and CarTrawler logos

Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform

The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.

Read More →
Speaker John Healy on stage with a podium, screen, and red curtains in the background.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Cross-Pressures, Evolving Trends Drive 2026 Rental Car Industry

A combination of cautious economic behavior, shifts in the rental vehicle market, and technological influences are shaping car rental operator decisions.

Read More →
Award winner on stage with presenters in front of yellow curtain.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Government Affairs Executive Wins Leading Rental Car Industry Award

Robert Muhs started in the car rental industry with Avis Budget Group two years before the first International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
The rental car team at the Green Motion franchise office near the Maputo International Airport in Mozambique.

Green Motion Expands Its African Presence with Mozambique Launch

This new rental car outlet reflects the growing demand for reliable transportation and the emphasis on sustainable travel across the continent.

Read More →
Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...