Former San Francisco Utility Supervisor Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement Scam
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The ringleader of an embezzlement ring at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is headed to prison.
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon said 47-year-old Donnie Thomas, the electrical supervisor at Treasure Island, pleaded guilty to four felonies. The embezzlement occurred from at least 2003 to 2007.
"You have several people that were working with a couple of local businesses. They were ordering supplies and then converting the property for personal use," Gascon said.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
Gascon said Thomas also ran his own electrical business on city time and using city supplies, but didn't pay unemployment insurance.
PUC General Manager Ed Harrington said Thomas and four other men from the Hetch Hetchy Power Crew all participated in the theft.
"In a very isolated area of Treasure Island, they were colluding together to do this and then working with two outside vendors," said Harrington.
All five men have pleaded guilty and five others are still facing charges.
Thomas received a three year prison sentence, fines of almost $400,000 and is now cooperating in the investigation.
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