Strategic Federal And State Criminal Defense

Former mayor accused of financial theft

On Behalf of | Mar 23, 2017 | Embezzlement |

On March 10, it was reported that a former mayor of a California city was seeking to have his $1 million bond reduced as he said that he could not afford it. The 43-year-old, who was the former mayor of Stockton, was accused of embezzlement, grand theft and misuse of public funds from the Stockton Kids Club, among other offenses.

The man was taken into custody in mid-2016 after he was accused of supplying alcohol to minors at a camp that he was running in Amador County. The FBI had been investigating the former mayor for at least two years prior to the probe becoming public in late 2015. During his first court appearance, which occurred on March 6, he pleaded not guilty to six felony charges. He had reportedly been traveling in Columbia but returned to the U.S. to comply with the arrest warrant.

The attorney argued that the former mayor should be released on his own recognizance. In the meantime, the attorney said he was enduring freezing conditions in solitary confinement.

People who have been accused of this type of financial fraud could potentially be facing severe punishments that include a jail sentence and the requirement to pay restitution. A criminal law attorney may go over the evidence the prosecution has against the defendant. The attorney may then argue that other people had access to the presumed stolen funds while arguing that the defendant was unaware that money was being taken. This may be done through bank statements and other documentation that provides doubt that the defendant was actually involved in the crime.

Source: FOX News, “Ex-California mayor facing corruption charges thinks jail cell is ‘too cold’‘”, Claudia Cowan, March 10, 2017

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