Oscar Almanza and Hender Maxwell, former employees of California State University, Long Beach, have been charged with grand theft and conspiracy after allegedly stealing over $36,500 from the school’s athletics department.
According to the LA County DA’s Office, the two men used fraudulent timesheets to certify hundreds of hours of work that were never performed between January and December 2022.
From January to December, Almanza worked as a field supervisor and Maxwell was a former grounds worker in Cal State Long Beach’s Athletics Department.
Almanza, a field supervisor at the time, is accused of approving timesheets submitted by Maxwell, a former grounds worker, even after Maxwell left the department. The money was then split between them after Maxwell was paid.
“I am appalled at the brazen acts of criminality allegedly committed by employees of California State University, Long Beach, an institution that depends on public funding and public trust,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.
Prosecutors claim the offenses indicate “planning, sophistication and professionalism” and involved an attempted and actual taking and damage of monetary value.
“Stealing from California’s venerated public university system steals from taxpayers and the thousands of students who rely on the university for affordable tuition and educational and career opportunities,” Hochman said.
Both Almanza and Maxwell face felony charges for conspiracy and grand theft, with the DA’s office describing the crimes as highly organized and involving significant monetary damage. The defendants pled not guilty and are scheduled for a court hearing on April 14. If convicted, they could face up to three years in county jail.
