School Embezzlement: Sweetwater Ex-Employee Pleads Not Guilty

CHULA VISTA, CA – A former employee of the Sweetwater Union High School District who's accused of embezzling more than $50,000 in money orders from the district pleaded not guilty Tuesday to embezzlement and grand theft charges.

Danya Margarita Williams, 42 of Chula Vista, is accused of appropriating more than $50,000 in money orders between June 2016 and November 2017, Chula Vista police Capt. Phil Collum said.

District officials discovered the alleged embezzlement in late 2017 and reported it to Chula Vista police, Collum said.

As part of her job, Williams was responsible for processing money orders received for fingerprint background investigations at the district, which are required during employment screening, according to police.

Each background investigation costs between $52 to $75 per applicant and the applicants pay the fee using money orders, Collum said.

"Instead of processing the money in accordance with district requirements, Williams deposited the money into her personal bank account," Collum alleged.

The exact amount of money that Williams allegedly embezzled was not revealed.

Williams, who faces four years in prison if convicted of all charges, was arrested last week but is out of custody on $50,000 bail. She's due back in a Chula Vista courtroom April 16 for a readiness conference.

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--City News Service