OROVILLE, Calif. – The president of Northern California Treatment Services, a company in Oroville that provides sober living environments for substance abuse, was arrested and now faces charges of theft and drug possession.

In October of 2020, detectives with the Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) said they received information that 58-year-old Michael Anderson, of Oroville, had stolen money from a deceased victim’s bank account.

BCSO said it learned that the victim was residing at a sober living residence managed by Anderson, prior to his death.

Evidence showed that Anderson went to a funeral home, after the victim's death, and falsely stated he was the victim's nephew, according to BCSO. Detectives determined Anderson is not related to the victim. Anderson continued to provide false information and was eventually able to get a hold of a death certificate for the victim - listing Anderson as the victim’s next-of-kin, said BCSO.

Authorities said Anderson then took the death certificate to a local bank in Chico. Anderson provided the bank with a copy of the death certificate, stole a significant amount of money from the victim's bank account, according to the sheriff's office.

Anderson was arrested by BCSO on Monday, Dec. 21.

After Anderson was placed under arrest, detectives served a search warrant at Anderson’s residence, located near the 100 block of Highlands Blvd., in Oroville. During the search warrant, detectives said they located numerous evidence items, including methamphetamine and over $35,000 in United States currency.

Anderson was booked into the Butte County Jail and faces charges of theft by false pretenses, knowingly filing a false document in a public office within the state, grand theft, and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, according to BCSO.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on Wednesday, Dec. 23.