LONG BEACH : City Cashier Accused of Stealing $150,000 in Funds
A cashier in the Long Beach Planning and Building Department was arrested Wednesday and charged with stealing more than $150,000 in city funds.
Mary Alicia Valdez, 37, a resident of Bellflower, was being held in lieu of $205,000 bail. Long Beach police investigators said that Valdez, who has worked for the city for seven years, handled cash payments for building permits and other fees as part of her job. A co-worker discovered the theft in August and reported it to the police.
Charges of embezzlement and grand theft were filed against Valdez in Los Angeles Municipal Court by the district attorney’s major fraud detail.
A city spokeswoman said that the city’s insurance is expect to cover all but about $10,000 of the losses.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
