| For Immediate Release Case # 10NF3741
December 10, 2010 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHARGED WITH STEALING OVER $134,000 FROM BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LA HABRA
SANTA ANA – An executive assistant for the Boys & Girls Clubs of La Habra will be arraigned Monday for stealing over $134,000 from the organization in cash deposits and unauthorized extra payroll. Lynette Rojas, 37, La Habra, is charged with one felony count of grand theft by embezzlement, 24 felony counts of computer access and fraud, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for over $100,000 in loss, aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, and property damage over $65,000. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison. The People will be requesting $135,000 bail and Rojas must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
Beginning in April 2008, Rojas is accused of working as an executive assistant with the responsibility of preparing and submitting payroll data and completing cash and check bank deposits for the organization. Rojas is accused of abusing her position by processing unauthorized, extra payroll to herself amounting to almost $25,000. Rojas is also accused of stealing over $109,000 in cash that was supposed to be deposited into the Boys & Girls Club of La Habra account. She is accused of attempting to hide her theft by altering the organization’s cash deposit paperwork. She is also accused of fraudulently signing the names of two club Directors on daily receipt forms.
The theft was discovered when it was determined that the cash deposit paperwork completed by Rojas was significantly more than the deposit receipts from the bank. Rojas is accused of stealing over $134,000 in all. After the theft, the Boys and Girls Club of La Habra laid off several employees and cut programs for needy children.
The La Habra Police Department investigated this case.
Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche of the Major Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.
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