A former Lynwood city employee pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $27,000 from an employees’ union while serving as its president.
Eric Gonzalez, 35, was immediately sentenced to two days in county jail and ordered to complete 240 days of community service and three years on probation following his guilty plea to one felony count of grand theft.
Gonzalez was also ordered to pay $27,735 in restitution — $20,000 of which has been paid, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Gonzalez, who worked as a civil engineering technician for the city, made four unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling $27,735 between 2011 and 2012 during his tenure as president of the Lynwood Employees Association, a nonprofit union representing city employees, according to prosecutors.
Other board members discovered the cash withdrawals and contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which launched an investigation.
— City News Service