| For Immediate Release Case # 10NF3741 April 18, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON FOR STEALING OVER $134,000 FROM BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LA HABRA
FULLERTON – An executive assistant for the Boys & Girls Clubs of La Habra was sentenced today to three years in state prison for stealing over $134,000 from the organization in cash deposits and unauthorized extra payroll. Lynette Rojas, 37, La Habra, pleaded guilty to the court April 4, 2011, 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. In addition to the three year prison sentence, Rojas was ordered to pay $165,000 in restitution and $270,000 in fines.
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 & Girls Club of La Habra had to lay off several employees and cut programs for needy children.
During the sentencing today, Boys & Girls Clubs of La Habra Board of Directors member Dawn Stille gave a victim impact statement to the court and explained that the purpose of the Club is to benefit disadvantaged children and provide a positive outlet for them, and Rojas abused her position of trust to steal from vulnerable. Stille explained, “[Rojas] was well aware that the money that she was stealing came directly from parents who paid for their children to attend to our extended daycare program. She knew how hard those parents worked to pay for their childcare at the club and how the money generated from that program was essential to the financial success of our club.”
The La Habra Police Department investigated this case.
Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche of the Major Fraud Unit prosecuted this case.
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