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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Ex-CEO Admits He Embezzled From Hospital

LOS ANGELES - The former CEO of a hospital district pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $90,000 from Imperial Valley Hospital.

Richard Mendoza, 66, now of San Antonio, Texas, admitted he took "reimbursement" for more than 30 seminars and training sessions he never attended, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement announcing his plea.

He was CEO of Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District, in Brawley, Calif.

Mendoza claimed he had used his personal credit card to attend the conferences he didn't go to, then, as CEO, ordered that he be "reimbursed" without proof of payment.

Mendoza was seen around the hospital on many of the dates when he claimed to be out of town, prosecutors said in the statement.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his Oct. 25, sentencing.

Neither the prosecutors' statement nor local news reports stated how much Mendoza was earning legitimately when he became a thief.

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