City Sues to Recover $6 Million Allegedly Embezzled by Employee

The city of Pasadena is suing to recover $6 million lost in the alleged embezzlement of a utility fund.

The suit names Danny Ray Wooten, 51, a former management analyst in the city’s Public Works Department, and his wife, Laveta Wooten; Tyrone Collins, 55, of Altadena, and his company, Collins Electric; Melody Jenkins, 46, of Pasadena, who was a temporary city employee; and two religious organizations, the Southern California Evangelistic Jurisdiction Center and the New Covenant Christian Fellowship Center.

The allegations in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed Tuesday include, fraud, conspiracy and that a violation of the state’s False Claims Act.

The city is seeking unspecified damages as well as restitution and a court order freezing the assets of the defendants until the litigation is complete.

Wooten’s attorney, Christopher Darden, did not immediately return a call for comment.

Wooten was charged in December with 20 felony counts each of embezzlement by a public or private officer and public officer crime, along with 19 felony counts of conflict of interest.

The owner of Collins Electric is charged with 10 felony counts each of embezzlement by a public or private officer and public officer crime. Prosecutors allege that Wooten directed more than $2 millions to Collins.

Jenkins is charged with one felony count each of embezzlement by a public or private officer, public officer crime and grand theft of personal property. Prosecutors allege that Wooten gave more than $40,000 in city funds to Jenkins.

A judge today scheduled a July 30 hearing so that a date can be set for a preliminary hearing in the criminal case.

Wooten is suspected of creating false invoices for the Pasadena Public Works Department’s underground utility program between 2004 and March 2014.

Along with the money allegedly directed to Collins and Jenkins, Wooten is suspected of setting up bank accounts in his name and directing city money to two religious organizations with which he was affiliated.

The alleged theft was discovered last year after the city ordered an audit. The city alleges the audit found that Wooten -- a 12-year city employee - - submitted as many as 296 phony invoices to the city.

Wooten was fired by the city last July 25 for “personnel matters unrelated to the investigation,” according to the city.

City News Service