Ex-Benicia pizzeria bookkeeper held in embezzlement

BENICIA, Calif. - A woman who worked as the bookkeeper at a popular Benicia pizzeria has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement.

Jessica Rose Carpino, 42, former manager and accountant at Pizza Pirate, was taken into custody Thursday by Benicia police, accused of writing checks to herself, to the tune of $141,000 over two years. She has since made bail.

Patrick Abshire had owned the restaurant for 30 years until September, when he was forced to sell it because of financial problems. He initially blamed his situation on things like coronavirus, the economy and even changes in eating habits. 

"So I'm like, 'I don't know what I'm doing.' Never in a million years did I think anything was being stolen," Abshire told KTVU on Friday.

"I'm just very disappointed and frustrated and depressed, because this was my life for 30 years," Abshire said. "And I really wasn't ready to move on from it for a few more years, until I could retire."

Authorities say Carpino had been stealing from the business over the two-year period during which she worked as the bookkeeper. She had worked at the pizzeria for six years before that, as a cashier and manager.

"Benicia PD told me that it's the biggest embezzlement case they've ever had in Benicia," Abshire said. "Unfortunately, I have that crown now."

He said Carpino even consoled him about the finances, and when he was forced to sell his home and move out of Benicia.

"How can you look me in the face when I kept telling you the last year and a half how stressed out, having to sell this, having to sell that, you would just shake your head 'No, I don't know,' " Abshire said.

Carpino even got public recognition in recent years for creating a work experience for local students. She was described as being "very understanding, patient and welcoming."

Pizza Pirate is still welcoming school groups, birthday parties and regulars  under new ownership. 

But the decor, the pirate ship - and the pirate decorations themselves - remain despite the hijacked books.

Longtime customers are in shock.

"That's ridiculous that someone you can trust to do your bookkeeping would steal from you," said Ryan Lingad. "Like, you hired them to do a job. And they're gonna take, and that's wrong."

Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan