FRESNO, Calif.–The former CEO of the Fresno Police Department's Credit Union has been placed on probation following an arrest for allegedly embezzling funds for personal purchases.
According to court records, Silvina Pelayo, 44, was charged with two felony counts back in October of 2017 after the Fresno Police Department Credit Union conducted an investigation and found she made personal purchases on the corporate credit card, according to CBS47.
The court documents state one purchase took place on April 26, 2016 at Home Depot for around $387, for a ceiling fan and light fixtures, according to the news outlet.
The document states Pelayo initially told a State of California Department of Business Oversight investigator that the fan was for the credit union's lobby, and the light fixture was for the men's room. Police said neither the fan nor the light fixtures could be found at the credit union, and court records show Pelayo later admitted that the items were installed at her home, CBS47 reported.
Purchases On Corporate Card
Court records show state investigators found Pelayo made several other purchases with the Fresno Police Department Credit Union corporate card over a 12-month period in 2016 and 2017, CBS47 reported, adding court documents show the state investigator claims Pelayo could not provide receipts for more than $2,000 in purchases to stores that included Target, Pier 1, Best Buy, Mor Furniture and others.
Documents show the audit found the total amount of the "Suspected Fraudulent Expenditure" was $2,925, CBS47 said.
According to court records, Pelayo pleaded no contest to one count, which was dropped to a misdemeanor, and also received two years’ probation. The funds have been repaid, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Bob Shaffer is currently CEO of Fresno Police Department Credit Union, which is privately insured by American Share Insurance.