Hotel Exec Charged With Embezzlement

SAN DIEGO (CN) - A former Westin San Diego hotel executive was charged this week with embezzling more than $500,000 from his company.

Kevin Kelso, 36, of Buena Park, was arraigned on six counts of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Kelso was Westin San Diego's finance director from December 2010 to September 2012. He was arrested Tuesday at another hotel, where he now works, or worked, the U.S. attorney said.

Prosecutors said Kelso embezzled by using the hotel's change order process, in which it changes customers' large bills for smaller ones; by using a corporate credit card to pay for personal expenses; by submitting duplicate expense reports; by reversing hotel charges for his pals; and by writing checks on Westin accounts "to improperly pay himself and third parties."

Kelso pleaded not guilty Wednesday and bail was set at $100,000.

The Westin San Diego is downtown, near the city's Gaslamp Quarter, a tourist destination.

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