California education official embezzled over $16 million, hid cash in mini fridge, officials say

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Embezzlement is far too common and under-reported.

I was hired as an attorney to retrieve $19,000+ that a former treasurer embezzled from a non-profit. He had been replaced by a recent election and refused to return the checkbook and bank statements. My initial advice was to close the account, get a new account and new checks. The President didn't listen to me. And the Treasurer wrote a check for $14,000 to himself. And wrote another check.

Needless to say, I had to research for more than three months, wrote a 25+ page Complaint and another 25+ page Brief, and filed a Declaratory Judgment action against the Treasurer. Stuff like Embezzlement, Fraud, Conversion, Bank Fraud, Deceit, etc. The Treasurer was chagrined and correctly worried this action would be transferred to the Prosecutor.

We got all the money back without stepping into court.

I'd tell you how the Treasurer successfully embezzled the money, but I don't want to disclose his method.