A former Pasadena city employee and two of his friends were arrested Tuesday on charges stemming from an alleged embezzlement scheme in which more than $6 million in city money was taken over a decade.
Danny Wooten, who’s being held in lieu of $1.75 million bail, was a management analyst in the city’s Public Works Department, which was in charge of moving the city’s utility lines underground, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Wooten, 51, is suspected of creating false invoices for the underground utility program between 2004 and March of this year.
Wooten allegedly directed more than $2 million to Tyrone Collins, 55, who owned Collins Electric, and giving more than $40,000 in city funds to Melody Jenkins, 46, who was a temporary Pasadena city employee, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Wooten is additionally suspected of setting up bank accounts in his name and directing city money to two churches with which he was affiliated.
The alleged theft was discovered earlier this year after the city ordered an audit. According to the city, the audit found that the Wooten — a 12-year city employee — submitted as many as 296 phony invoices to the city.
“I am immensely disappointed that one of our former city employees allegedly exploited his position and leveraged our internal processes for personal gain by stealing taxpayer money and betraying the public’s trust,” Pasadena City Manager Michael J. Beck said. “We will use this experience to reinforce our commitment to good governance through our policies and procedures.”
The city audit made 43 recommendations for tightening city controls, and nearly all of them are expected to be implemented in the next few months, Beck said. The city has created an internal audit manager position and is in the process of finding a suitable candidate for the post.
Wooten was fired by the city July 25 for “personnel matters unrelated to the investigation,” according to the city.
Pasadena officials said they do not believe any other city employees were involved in criminal activity related to the alleged embezzlement, but four workers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the completion of a personnel investigation.
Wooten faces up to 28 years in state prison if convicted, while Collins would face up to 18 years behind bars and Jenkins up to four years in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
It was not immediately clear when the three would be arraigned.
According to the Pasadena Star-News, Wooten had an annual salary of $131,621 last year.
— City News Service