By Janene Scully, Noozhawk North County Editor | @JaneneScully
July 9, 2021
| 9:32 p.m.
A Santa Maria Valley attorney faces 13 felony criminal charges in Santa Barbara County Superior Court related to allegations that she embezzled funds and committed other white-collar crimes while handling an elderly client’s trust.
Debbie Lee Morawski, 47, of Orcutt has been charged with three counts of embezzlement, one count of theft from an elder or dependent adult, one count of preparing false documentary evidence and eight counts of money laundering.
The criminal complaint also lists several special allegations, or sentencing enhancements, including for aggravated white-collar crime with a loss greater than $500,000.