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On the heels of major proposed reform at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power comes news that two employees have been charged with fraud for stealing around $3 million, according to the LA Times.
For six years Anthony Carone and Akbar Fonooni were buying furniture for the department, but allegedly through a dummy company set up by a friend of Carone that would sell at inflated prices. The difference in money would then be pocketed.
49-year-old Carone, who is a plumbing supervisor, has been arrested and his friend, who set up J.J. & R. Sales, is the focus of an arrest warrant. 55-year-old Fonooni, who is a fire protection engineer, has left the country. Charges include conflict of interest, misappropriation of public funds and conspiracy.