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Criminal Justice

Former La Cañada Flintridge assistant city manager charged with fraud, embezzlement

Sunlight shines through a green tree canopy standing beside a beige building. A plaque on its exterior wall reads "La Cañada Flintridge" and the words "city hall" below it.
The former assistant city manager of La Cañada Flintridge was charged with stealing nearly $200,000 meant for the city.
(
The city of La Cañada Flintridge
)

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Topline:

The former assistant city manager of La Cañada Flintridge, Carl Alameda, has been charged with stealing nearly $200,000 meant for the city, according to L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.

What are the charges: Alameda was charged with 11 felony counts of embezzlement and 23 counts of insurance fraud. The former city manager pleaded not guilty Wednesday and faces 33 years in prison if convicted. Alameda did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.

Why it matters: “It is a major disservice and betrayal of trust when public officials place their own selfish interests over the communities they serve," Hochman said in a statement. “It undermines faith in our government.”

The backstory: Prosecutors say Alameda sent letters to insurance companies between 2016 and 2022 using city letterhead and requested reimbursement for accidents or property damage caused by drivers in the city. They also accuse him of falsifying invoices and depositing nearly $200,000 worth of reimbursement checks into his bank account.

What’s next: Alameda, who is listed as the city of Ojai’s assistant city manager, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 23.

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