Former Lynwood City Employee Charged With Embezzling Employees' Union Funds

LYNWOOD, CA - A former Lynwood city employee was arrested today on charges that he embezzled more than $27,000 while serving as president of the Lynwood Employees Association.

Eric Gonzalez, 34, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse on four felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement.

Gonzalez, who worked as a civil engineering technician for the city, allegedly made four unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling $27,735 during his tenure as president of the nonprofit union representing city employees between 2011 and 2012.

Other board members discovered the cash withdrawals and contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which launched an investigation, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Gonzalez, who's being held in lieu of $80,000 bail, faces up to five years in custody if convicted.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock