San Fernando City Workers Accused of Embezzling
Two San Fernando city employees were charged Thursday with embezzling more than $30,000 from the city in goods and services, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Steven Angarita, 25, and Bruce Hartwell, 53, were charged with multiple counts of misappropriating public funds. Angarita, a management analyst, and Hartwell, an equipment supervisor, have been suspended pending the case’s outcome.
City officials began investigating after a San Fernando city truck and trailer were spotted in Pomona in August. Angarita was accused of using the truck to transport 300 bottles of beer for his wedding and leaving it outside his bride’s home while they honeymooned, officials said.
The probe, joined by the San Fernando Police Department, revealed that Angarita and Hartwell signed off on fraudulent charges to the city, according to the district attorney’s office.
The men also were accused of paying for repairs to personal vehicles with city funds.
Two others face related charges, the district attorney’s office said: Manuel Rubio, 46, owner of North Valley Auto Collision in San Fernando, and Gilberto Salcedo, 31, owner of Quality Auto Upholstery in Sylmar.
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.
