Mandy Borquez, the former Antelope Valley College employee arrested for embezzling half a million dollars from the college, pleaded guilty Wednesday, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Borquez, 33, pleaded to two counts of grand theft by embezzlement and admitted an allegation that the related felonies involve the taking of more than $150,000. This allegation requires that Borquez serve her time in state prison rather than county jail.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Horwitz immediately sentenced Borquez to three years, four months in state prison. Restitution was ordered for two victims in the total amount of $423,340.90.
The court dismissed four counts at sentencing – two counts of grand theft by embezzlement and one count each of identity theft and grand theft with an access card – under the terms of a negotiated settlement.
Borquez, who worked as an accounting assistant for Antelope Valley College, embezzled almost $510,000 between 2004 and 2010. The theft was discovered after an audit by an AVC supervisor.
This case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Read a statement made by AVC shortly after Borquez was arrested here.
(Information via press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Officer.)
Jo says
So, will the sheriffs do compliance checks with forensic accounting experts in all the departments at the college (and every other school district office)? Because there is fraud and abuse of public funds? You know, like section 8? This isn’t the 1st time there has been embezzlement of school funds. If it’s good enough for the folks of color on public assistance!