| For Immediate Release Case # 10NF3741
April 4, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CONVICTED OF
STEALING OVER $134,000 FROM
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LA HABRA
FULLERTON – An executive assistant for the Boys & Girls Clubs of La Habra was convicted today of stealing over $134,000 from the organization in cash deposits and unauthorized extra payroll. Lynette Rojas, 37, La Habra, pleaded guilty to the court to 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. Rojas is expected to be sentenced to three years in state prison and ordered to pay $165,000 in restitution and $270,000 in fines at her sentencing April 18, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
Beginning in April 2008, Rojas worked as an executive assistant with the responsibility of preparing and submitting payroll data and completing cash and check bank deposits for the organization. Rojas abused her position by processing unauthorized, extra payroll to herself amounting to almost $25,000. Rojas stole over $109,000 in cash that was supposed to be deposited into the Boys & Girls Club of La Habra account. She attempted to hide her theft by altering the organization’s cash deposit paperwork. She also fraudulently signed 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 stole over $134,000 in all. As a result of the theft, the Boys and Girls Club of La Habra had to lay 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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