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Uploaded: Monday, November 19, 2012, 2:46 PM
Menlo Park police search flower shop
Investigators seek evidence of business fraud
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by Sandy Brundage
Almanac Staff
This is an expanded version of a story that previously appeared online.
The owner of Cindy's Flowers and Gifts has not had an easy year -- a string of legal troubles culminated last week in the service of search warrants by police investigating complaints of fraud.
The Menlo Park Police Department served two search warrants on Nov. 15, but that's about all they want you to know about the investigation at this point.
A terse press release informed the public that around 7:45 a.m. a team of investigators that included Menlo Park officers, district attorney inspectors, and state employment department representatives descended upon a business in the 1800 block of El Camino Real in Menlo Park, as well as a residence in the 1500 block of Laurel Place, to carry out search warrants. The release didn't name the business or who lived in the residence.
Employees of Cindy's Flowers and Gifts confirmed the business was searched, but said they have no idea what's going on. Questions were referred to an attorney, although neither the lawyer's name nor contact information was immediately available.
San Mateo County Superior Court records show the owner of the shop, Cindy Smith, was ordered to pay $25,000 to Western State Land Corp. in August for "unpaid rent, damages and attorney fees" related to the shop's former location at 558 Santa Cruz Ave. Court documents state she leased the premises in 2007, but was evicted on July 3, 2012, after she stopped paying rent two months earlier.
Other records show Ms. Smith and a co-defendant were ordered to pay $2,558 for past due invoices and court costs in 2011.
A year-long investigation of worker's compensation fraud and violations of state business regulations commenced after complaints were made to the police department, according to the press release.
No other details about the ongoing investigation were available. The Menlo Park Police Department asks anyone with information about this case to call Officer Felicia Byars at 330-6300 or the anonymous tip hotline at 330-6395.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by common sense, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Nov 20, 2012 at 3:28 pm I am very concerned about the way this is reported. If Cindy's Flower's and Gifts is innocent of the things you have reported---you should be sued for defamation of character. It's hard enough to make a living in this age of over-regulation and high business taxes, etc. without our local paper trying to jump to conclusions that may or may not be valid. I especially can't believe you would report someone's private residence address. Do you hate small business that much? Sure wish you would report the public sector and union activities in the same manner!
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Posted by Gina, a resident of the Menlo Park: Stanford Weekend Acres neighborhood, on Nov 20, 2012 at 4:13 pm I hope the authorities have the right place of business because its hard to believe that a flower shop like Cindy's flowers would be engage in some kind of illegal activity. They have been here for ages and I don't think they would jeopardize their customers or community they work in and pay hard earned tax dollars.
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Posted by Marcy Maga, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 20, 2012 at 7:20 pm I am heartened to see that local residence care about their small, local businesses. I also know Cindy, casually, and would never suspect that she would, knowingly, do anything morally or legally wrong. She has always been a hard working, kind person. If she is or is not, in some trouble, I can only try to put myself, in her shoes, and hope that my on-going business would be a source for the funds to aide me in rectifying the situation! Therefore, I agree with the comments made, that reporting her name and the business name, serves no useful purpose, certain does damage her ability to work her way out of the problem. Two things, I think worth asking are 1)why was the "co-defendant" not named, if 'full disclosure' was the intent? 2) If the public is not in danger, and she has only been served, or arrested or charged, whatever...why smear her name and damage her business? Couldn't you at least wait to see if she is convicted? It feels a little like public "flogging".
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Posted by Marcy Magatelli, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 20, 2012 at 7:24 pm Wow! I need an editor, don't I? I meant local residents.
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Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Nov 20, 2012 at 9:28 pm Marcy and others:
It's called reporting the NEWS. You know, stuff that happens in our community. Free speach. Pesky first amendment don't you know.
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Posted by Christine, a resident of the Atherton: West of Alameda neighborhood, on Dec 21, 2012 at 11:56 am
Christine is a member (registered user) of Almanac Online I am not surprised to hear this news about Cindy Smith. I agree with the authorities and believe this story is 100% true.
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