Ex-Trustee Ely Has Cancer Surgery : Health: The convicted embezzler has had two operations in which half his face was removed, according to his wife.

Former community college trustee James T. (Tom) Ely, who was convicted of embezzlement more than a year ago, has undergone “radical” surgery to stop facial cancer from spreading, his wife said Friday.

Ingrid Ely said her husband has had two operations, in which half of his face was removed to check a spreading tumor identified as a squamous cell carcinoma. He was listed in good condition Friday at St. John’s Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica.

“He is recovering very slowly,” Ingrid Ely said. “It’s very radical and very serious.”

Ely is expected to undergo more surgery, she said, including a reconstructive procedure. He may also be forced to undergo more radiation therapy.

Ely and his wife were convicted last June of bilking $15,000 from the Ventura County Community College District by padding expense accounts. Ely received a one-year jail sentence and his wife was ordered to serve 500 hours of community service, but the sentences were delayed in the wake of Tom Ely’s bad health.

Shortly before his sentencing before Superior Judge Lawrence Storch in September, Ely found a lump on his right cheek. After extensive tests, doctors discovered the cancer. At first they tried to reduce the tumor with radiation therapy, but treatment was unsuccessful.

In April, Ely’s doctor told county probation officers that he expected to remove the former trustee’s right eye, right eye socket, the right half of his nose, right upper jaw, the right half of his upper lip and entire right cheek.

The doctor said he did not believe that Ely would be well enough to begin serving his sentence for at least one year after the operation. The Elys are scheduled to appear before Judge Storch in January. They have so far received five delays in serving their sentences since Ely’s health problems started.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol J. Nelson said Friday that she was sorry to hear that Ely was forced to undergo the radical surgery, but she still plans to push ahead with the jail term.

“He should do his time eventually,” Nelson said. “If that is next year, then that’s the way it is.”

Ely’s attorney, James M. Farley, said he has watched his client’s health and financial status dramatically decline since the trial.

“You can’t punish him any more than he has been punished already,” Farley said.

In June, an Orange County foreclosure firm announced that unless the Elys made good on a $59,794 second mortgage on their Simi Valley house, the house would be sold at auction.

The firm has delayed the auction date several times due to the couple’s bankruptcy proceedings. However, the house is set to be sold on Sept. 29.