A former Magnolia School District administrator pleaded guilty Thursday, March 28 to embezzling $15.9 million from the district over seven years.
Jorge Armando Contreras, 53, of Yorba Linda, pleaded guilty to embezzling from the district — which serves students in Anaheim and Stanton —from August 2016 through July of last year.
Prosecutors said Contreras started working for the school district in July 2006 and became director of fiscal services in March of 2013. He was promoted to senior director of fiscal services in April 2017.
He signed a plea deal with federal prosecutors March 7 and is scheduled to be sentenced July 25.
Contreras embezzled about $4.1 million from August of 2022 through July 2023 alone, prosecutors said.
He used the money to pay for $1.9 million in American Express charges, to withdraw $325,000 in cash and to transfer about $130,000 to his partner, who he married in August of last year, prosecutors said.
Contreras also spent money buying a home in Yorba Linda for about $1.5 million and purchasing a BMW SUV that cost $127,000, according to prosecutors.
He also spent $190,000 for cosmetic treatments, prosecutors said. He was placed on administrative leave in August of last year.
So far, authorities have seized about $7.7 million in property he bought with the stolen money, prosecutors said.
Sentencing is set for July 25.