The Rossys walked to the courtroom for arraignments April 12th.

Dawndee and Kenneth Rossy of Bishop still face 44 felonies including embezzlement of $1.5 million in public funds from the Inyo Welfare Department. Their June 6th preliminary hearing has now been continued until June 20th, according to the Inyo District Attorney’s Office.

The couple are out of jail but on GPS monitors pending further court hearings. The Bishop Police Department had launched an investigation in January when information surfaced that funds were missing from the Inyo Welfare Office in Bishop. Officers arrested the Rossys in April. County officials said Dawndee Rossy was terminated in February from her job as a supervisor in the Health and Human Services Department after reports were made to law enforcement that she was suspected of embezzling public funds.

The DA filed charges that include embezzlement of public funds, conspiracy to commit grand theft, conspiracy to commit identity theft and possession of methamphetamine. The criminal complaint filed against the Rossys reveals an alleged scheme to get welfare benefits in the form of cash through use of Electronic Benefit Transfer or EBT cards.

The complaint also reveals the allegation that the couple used the identities of 35 individuals to obtain the welfare benefits for themselves. Although County officials have said safeguards were in place to avoid embezzlement, clearly they did not protect the welfare funds. Officials said they were making changes to improve safeguards.

In another potential and completely separate embezzlement case, Bishop Police continue to investigate a report of possible embezzlement from Inyo-Mono Body Shop. Bishop Police Chief Chris Carter had said just over a month ago that his department received a report from the business that they believe they were the victim of embezzlement. That case is still under investigation. No charges have been filed.