Employee at Fort Irwin suspected of embezzling funds

BARSTOW — The Barstow sheriff’s station is looking into a case of possible embezzlement by an employee of a Fort Irwin contractor.
Ryan Kosiba, 27, a former employee of iAP World Services, Inc., disappeared with a total of $2,800 from the post, according to Deputy Sarah Levan, with the Barstow sheriff’s station.

Kosiba, who worked in iAP’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Division, had access to two separate petty cash funds and was also entrusted with money to make preparations for special events, Levan said. Before the last day he was seen at work, which was July 15, Kosiba had been given a check for $1,500 to be used to prepare for a function, according to the Barstow sheriff’s station incident log.

That money, along with $1,300 in petty cash, was discovered to be missing after he failed to show up to work on July 16, according to the sheriff’s station incident log. Kosiba had the combination to the petty cash safes, and the check had been written out in his name to be cashed and used for event preparations, Levan said.

Initially, the post’s Criminal Investigation Command was handling the investigation, but when it became evident that the main suspect was a civilian, the CID handed the case over to the sheriff’s station, she said. The sheriff’s station received the report Thursday.

Barstow Police Department checked Kosiba’s last known address in Barstow but found it vacant, according to the sheriff’s station incident log.
If caught, he faces felony embezzlement charges, Levan said.

Hobie Hicks, human resources manager with iAP, said Kosiba is no longer employed there but could give no further information on an ongoing investigation. The company employs about 550 people at Fort Irwin and provides services ranging from servicing buildings to running the Fort Irwin Fire Department.

To report information relating to the case, call the Barstow sheriff’s station at 760-256-4838. To remain anonymous, call WE-TIP at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information on the WeTip Web site at www.wetip.com.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or abby_sewell@link.freedom.com