Former Pasadena official arrested for allegedly embezzling more than $6 million

A former Pasadena city official and two of his friends have been arrested and charged in the alleged embezzlement of more than $6 million, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Danny R. Wooten, who served as a Pasadena Public Works management analyst in charge of relocating the city's utility lines underground, allegedly created false invoices for the program between 2004 and March 2014, according to the release. The alleged theft was discovered earlier in 2014 in a city audit, according to prosecutors.

Of the $6 million, $2 million was allegedly funneled to Collins Electric owner Tyrone Collins. Wooten allegedly gave temporary Pasadena employee Melody Jenkins more than $40,000 in city money, as well as giving city money to two churches he was affiliated with: The Southern California Evangelist Jursidiction Center and Pomona's New Covenant Christian Fellowship Center. New Covenant's website, now disabled, listed Wooten as the church's senior pastor.

Wooten, Collins and Jenkins face 60 felony counts, including embezzlement, conflict of interest and grand theft, according to the release. Wooten faces up to 28 years in prison, while Collins faces a maximum of 18 years and Jenkins faces up to four years.