| For Immediate Release Case # 10NF0074 April 27, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
FORMER FIREWORK DISTRIBUTOR OFFICE MANAGER CONVICTED OF STEALING $146,000 FROM EMPLOYER UNDER FALSE PRETENSE OF PAYING FOR
CITY SALE PERMITS
SANTA ANA – A former firework wholesaler office manager was convicted today of stealing over $146,000 from his employer by claiming the money was to obtain city firework sale booth permits. Carlos Martinez Rosales, 29, Norwalk, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of grand theft and five felony counts of forgery with a sentencing enhancement for loss over $65,000. He is expected to be sentenced to two years in state prison and ordered to pay $146,000 in restitution on June 1, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
TNT Fireworks (TNT) is a nationwide wholesale distributor of fireworks with a corporate office in Fullerton. Rosales was hired in February 2007 as an office manager who was responsible for obtaining permits with cities in Orange and Los Angeles Counties to set up July 4th firework sale booths.
Between June 2007 and June 2008, Rosales stole over $146,000 from TNT by requesting approximately 200 fraudulent checks. He is accused of claiming the checks would be used as payment for firework booths throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties, and instead depositing the funds into his personal accounts.
In July 2008, TNT’s president discovered the theft during a review of the company’s finances. The theft was reported to the Fullerton Police Department, who investigated this case.
Deputy District Attorney Yvette Patko of the Major Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.
###