Compton's deputy treasurer, 47-year-old Salvador Galvan, was arrested for allegedly embezzling money from the city's treasury, the sheriff's department said Thursday.
Galvan was taken into custody by deputies from the Compton station around 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, according to L.A. County jail records. He was then booked on an embezzlement charge, according to the sheriff's department.
Galvan was released from custody early this morning after posting bail, the Los Angeles Times reported. That has not yet been confirmed by the sheriff's department. He's scheduled to appear in Compton Superior Court for arraignment on Dec. 30, according to jail records.
According to Galvan's LinkedIn page, he's worked for the city of Compton for almost 23 years.
It's unclear how Galvan's alleged embezzlement came to light. But this morning, Compton Mayor Aja Brown issued a statement on the arrest.
"On Wednesday, an employee from the City Treasurer's Office allegedly admitted to illegally taking money from the city. The amount of money and the period of time this activity occurred are unknown at this time, but it is possible that both are extensive. The Sheriffs were notified and the employee has since been arrested," Brown said.
"Unfortunately, the actions of one employee can challenge the public's trust that we strive daily to rebuild. The alleged embezzlement and theft of public funds is an egregious affront to the residents of Compton and our dedicated employees."
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"After learning of the potential misconduct, city officials took the appropriate action to notify law enforcement. We will fully cooperate with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office as they conduct their independent investigation. We are currently unsure of the magnitude of the alleged misconduct, however I will keep the Compton community fully abreast of the findings as they unfold," Brown continued.
"As Mayor, I take any incidents of misconduct very seriously. I will work with my colleagues on the City Council to review current city hiring practices and internal financial controls to take the appropriate action necessary to prevent a similar situation in the future."
