Case # 17WF1147
Date: May 26, 2017
FORMER CHP OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE CLUB PRESIDENT CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM CLUB
WESTMINSTER, Calif. – A former California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer was charged with embezzling funds from a CHP employee club of which he was the president.
|
Defendant |
Charges |
Maximum Sentence |
Court Date |
|
Mark Matthew Linza, 40, Huntington Beach |
Charged on May 24, 2017, with:
|
Three years in county jail |
Arraignment
West Justice Center, Westminster |
Circumstances of the Case
- In January 2014, Linza was selected as the president of “The 670 Club” (Club), a social organization intended to promote camaraderie among employees of the CHP Westminster Area.
- The defendant was in control of the club bank account and is accused of taking a series of steps that allowed his activities as club president to remain unmonitored.
- Upon being placed in control of the Club bank account, Linza is accused of obtaining an ATM card for the account, a practice which had never been employed by prior presidents.
- On Feb. 7, 2014, the defendant is accused of withdrawing $1,000 cash from the club bank account and depositing $800 cash into his own personal bank account.
- Similarly on Dec. 15, 2015, the defendant is accused of making a cash withdrawal from the Club account for $120 and depositing the same amount in cash into his own personal account.
- Between January 2014 and January 2016, Linza is accused of embezzling over $950 from the Club.
CHP investigated this case.
Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Chrisopoulos, Special Prosecutions Unit.