Took $5,500 : Woolard Is Sentenced to 6 Months

A former Moorpark councilman was sentenced Monday to six months in prison for embezzling $5,500 from the post office branch where he worked.

Danny Allen Woolard, 39, pleaded guilty in federal court Jan. 12 to stealing the money from his cash drawer at the Moorpark Post Office over several months last year. Woolard, who resigned from the City Council the next day, told authorities that he took the money to support a cocaine habit.

U. S. District Judge Manuel L. Real ordered Woolard to serve six months of a seven-year sentence for one count of embezzling postal funds. The judge also ordered Woolard to perform 2,000 hours of community service and be placed on five years’ probation after his release from prison.

Calls Sentence Fair

“Based on all the things that I’ve been accused of, the sentence is probably more than fair,” Woolard said outside court. He faced a maximum sentence of 10 years and $250,000.

In asking for leniency in his sentencing, Woolard told the judge that he had returned the stolen money and has since stopped using cocaine.

Woolard, a 12-year postal employee, confessed the thefts to postal authorities last September after a surprise audit revealed the cash shortage. He admitted using part of a $7,500 loan arranged by Moorpark Mayor Thomas C. (Bud) Ferguson to purchase stamps from other post offices in a failed attempt to cover up the crime.

Woolard was indicted by a federal grand jury in November on a single count of stealing postal funds. He pleaded not guilty to stealing the post office money at his December arraignment but later changed his plea after Real ruled that the confession to postal inspectors could be used as evidence.

Allegations of Corruption

Since resigning from City Council, Woolard has made a series of allegations of political corruption against Moorpark officials. Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury has confirmed that his office is investigating possible misconduct by city officials there.

Woolard, who has been granted immunity in the corruption investigation by the district attorney’s office, alleged that Ferguson lent him as much as $30,000 over the last 18 months to influence his vote on City Council. Ferguson has denied any wrongdoing.

Ferguson acknowledged lending Woolard $10,000 during that period, but he has said it was out of friendship and not to influence Woolard’s vote.

Woolard is scheduled to begin serving his sentence March 16.