A 41-year-old Cypress man pleaded not guilty Monday to stealing more than $75,000 from various charities at auctions.
John Lee West was charged Nov. 8 with nine counts of grand theft and five counts of fraudulent use of an access card, all felonies. He also denied sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime between $100,000 to $500,000.
West is accused of submitting bids online and at in-person silent auctions to obtain a variety of goods and services, which he acquired through canceled credit cards or fake or closed checking accounts, according to court records.
West is accused of attempting to steal $173,770, but received about $75,748, according to court records.
Some of the victims listed in the complaint are the Ray Leonard Foundation, Glendale College Foundation, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Lupus LA, Ronald McDonald House, Woodlake Elementary School and St. Bonaventure Church in Huntington Beach.
West was arrested Friday and arraigned Monday in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana. He could face up to 13 years and eight months in prison if convicted at trial.
West was ordered to return to court for a pretrial hearing Dec. 5 in the West Justice Center in Westminster.