Former College Official Pleads No Contest

Viet Be, a former administrator at Cerritos College, pleaded no contest Monday to three felony charges of embezzlement and conflict of interest stemming from a transcript evaluation service he operated while serving as the school’s admissions director.

Be now faces up to three years’ probation, an $8,000 fine and 500 hours of community service when he goes before a Superior Court judge for sentencing July 1.

Be, 45, was dismissed after an internal investigation. Through a sideline business, Be charged foreign students up to $120 to review their transcripts, telling them that the evaluation was necessary for them to remain at the school.

Be is also being investigated by the state Fair Political Practices Commission, which has charged him with conflict of interest for allegedly making money from the students while he worked for the college.