Local News in Brief : Former Molina Aide Under Investigation

Los Angeles Councilwoman Gloria Molina said Friday that she is cooperating with a criminal investigation into allegations that the bookkeeper of her 1986 reelection committee embezzled more than $9,800 of her campaign funds.

Molina said she notified the district attorney’s office soon after learning from state auditors late last year that nine checks totaling $9,811.50 were not disclosed in the committee’s campaign statements.

According to a search warrant affidavit, prosecutors suspect that Sandra Sewell wrote seven of the checks to herself in 1985. Sewell then allegedly endorsed the checks and deposited them into her checking account, apparently without informing Molina, who was preparing to run for her third term in the Assembly at the time.

Prosecutors are investigating the alleged embezzlement but have not yet decided whether to file charges against Sewell, who was not immediately available for comment. Molina said she has been cooperating with prosecutors in their investigation and has provided them with her financial records.