FORMER FIREWORK DISTRIBUTOR OFFICE MANAGER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR STEALING $146,000 FROM EMPLOYER UNDER FALSE PRETENSE OF PAYING FOR CITY SALE PERMITS

FORMER FIREWORK DISTRIBUTOR OFFICE MANAGER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR
STEALING $146,000 FROM EMPLOYER UNDER
FALSE PRETENSE OF PAYING FOR CITY SALE PERMITS

SANTA ANA – A former firework wholesaler office manager was sentenced today to two years in state prison for 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 April 27, 2011, to one felony count of grand theft and five felony counts of forgery with a sentencing enhancement for loss over $65,000. In addition to two years in state prison, Rosales has been ordered to pay $146,000 in restitution.

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 prosecuted this case.

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