Exorbitant egg order at Monterey school cracks open 'disgusting' embezzlement scheme, police say – Los Angeles Times

Exorbitant egg order at Monterey school cracks open ‘disgusting’ embezzlement scheme, police say  Los Angeles Times

The spidey senses of a Monterey school administrator started tingling when an invoice the food services director submitted for eggs, bacon and potatoes at Costco came with an exorbitant price tag. It appears the administrator's suspicions were not without reason. The suspiciously large breakfast bill recently led Seaside police to crack an alleged embezzlement scandal involving the misuse of nearly $300,000 in public money, according to Police Chief Nick Borges. This week, the department announced the arrest of two Monterey International School employees in connection with the costly discovery at the publicly funded kindergarten-through-eighth-grade charter school. "There's something about this level of theft that really gets under my skin," he told The Times.

"You are ripping off not just the school, not just the kids; it's taxpayer dollars — you are ripping everybody off." Food Services Director Terry Bumper, 42, is accused of embezzling at least $58,800 by placing food orders through the school that he then used to supply his private catering business and by renting out the school's kitchens for personal profit. On Oct. 20, the Monterey County district attorney's office charged him with one count of embezzlement. He pleaded not guilty and was released that day after posting $20,000 bond, according to court records. Then two days later, Seaside police arrested Chief Financial Officer Rosa Segura, 45,