A Lompoc woman pleaded not guilty in Santa Barbara County Superior Court for a criminal case alleging she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Lompoc Little League organization. 

Stephanie Kay Greco, 58, was arrested Dec. 20 by Lompoc police officers after a months-long investigation into allegations about missing funds from the youth baseball program. 

Greco served on the Little League board including as acting treasurer. Police said she also is known as Stephanie Schaffer.

On Dec. 20, 2023, a representative of the Lompoc Little League notified the Police Department about a possible fraud of more than $100,000 from their organization between 2020 and 2022, Cpl. David Magaña of the Investigation Bureau said. 

The report identified a previous player agent, or board member, who served as the acting treasurer as a possible suspect.

The organization provided police with months of bank statements and transactions. 

During the investigation spanning several months, detectives wrote search warrants and confirmed the embezzlement of several thousands of dollars, Magaña said. 

The District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint in Santa Barbara County Superior Court charging Greco with one count of felony embezzlement. 

The criminal complaint also included two special allegations, or sentencing enhancements, for excessive loss over $100,000 and aggravating factors. 

Greco has been ordered to return to court on Feb. 3 when the judge and attorneys may set a date for the preliminary hearing.

She is free from jail custody but on supervised release while the case moves through the court system. 

Among the terms of her release, she was instructed not to contact Lompoc Little League board members and not to possess financial documents of others.