Lynette Rojas booking photo COURTESY OF ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Lynette Rojas was an executive assistant for the Club with the responsibility of preparing payroll data and completing bank deposits for the organization. She abused her position by processing unauthorized payroll to herself, and stealing cash that was supposed to be deposited into the Club account. She then attempted to hide her theft by altering the organization’s deposit paperwork and forging signatures of other directors on receipts.

Rojas pleaded guilty to grand theft by embezzlement, 24 felony counts of computer access and fraud at the Boys & Girls Club of La Habra. Earlier this week, she was sentenced to three years in prison and has to pay $165,000 in restitution, as well as $270,000 in fines.

White-collar crime includes embezzlement, bribery, extortion, theft, burglary, forgery, healthcare fraud, insurance fraud, internet fraud, mail fraud, tax fraud, credit card fraud, identity theft, receiving stolen property, and many other crimes. These crimes can be considered misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the severity. They also can be prosecuted at the state level, Federal level or both, depending on where and how the crimes were committed. Punishments range from fines, to probation, to prison.

Most people who commit white-collar crimes are professionals whose reputations can be severely affected by a conviction. Therefore, if you are charged with a white-collar crime, please contact an experienced criminal defense attorney right away.