A Los Alamos Valley woman whose volunteer work earned her recognization in recent years has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling more than $10,000.

Laura Beas-Díaz, 40, voluntarily turned herself in at the Santa Barbara County sheriff’s substation the evening of Sept. 15 after investigators obtained a $50,000 warrant for her arrest.

Sheriff’s deputies began investigating Beas-Díaz after receiving a report on Aug. 11, 2025, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick.

More than $10,000 was embezzled over approximately one year leading up to the start of the investigation, Zick said.

She did not identify the victim of the alleged embezzlement or the total amount lost.

A criminal complaint had not been filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court as of Tuesday.

That’s not necessarily unusual when a suspect has posted bail, easing the requirement to file close to an arrest.

It also can be a sign that law enforcement officers are conducting additional investigation.

On Tuesday, the District Attorney’s Office confirmed the investigators’ report had been forwarded and was under review for a filing decision.

For many years, Beas-Díaz has volunteered for various organizations in the Los Alamos Valley, and often stepped up to help individuals in need in the community as she became known as the person to call in a crisis.

Her efforts led to her recognition last year as the one of the Champions of the Valley at the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation’s annual awards event.

In recent years, Beas-Díaz served on the Olga Reed School’s PTSA board, volunteered as a community outreach coordinator for the Los Alamos Foundation, and delivered meals for Feed the Valley to local seniors and low-income families.

She also was involved in the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club, which organizes the community’s annual Old Days celebration each September.

In 2023, she rode in a place of honor as grand marshal in the Old Days parade.

This month, she remained listed on the Friends of the Los Alamos Cemetery website as a board member.

Four years ago, she and her family were among Los Alamos residents to lose their homes in a fire at Rancho Alamo Trailer Park, leading the community to rally to support them.

A GoFundMe site collected more than $25,000 in donations for her family, more than efforts for others who lost their homes.

The Men’s Club also planned a fundraiser to assist the residents of the four homes.

Beas-Díaz was released from the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria on a bail bond several hours after turning herself in.