Cecilia Zamora as Treasurer Gave High School Cheer Boosters an “E” for Embezzlement: Cops


A parent volunteer has been arrested for allegedly embezzling $16,000 from Beckman High School
Cheer Booster Club.

After an investigation, Irvine Police detectives arrested Cecilia Zamora, 39, of Rancho Santa
Margarita, this morning at her place of employment, the corporate office in Orange of a financial institution, according to Lt. Julia Engen, the department spokeswoman.
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Zamora was the booster club treasurer between 2009 and 2011, but missing funds were not discovered until a new treasurer last year found
collection notices for invoices Zamora had previously documented as
paid, Engen said.

Police detectives believe Zamora wrote checks to herself but indicated
they were written to pay bills for the club's coaching stipends and
uniforms, according to Engen, who says among the evidence are $2,000 to $3,000 checks written to herself and totaling about $16,000. “Suspicious deposits” to personal accounts held by Zamora were also discovered, Engen added.

Beckman High is part of the
Tustin Unified School District, whose officials in the administrative offices and at the school site “have been
working closely with the Irvine Police Department throughout this
investigation,” Engen says.

Her statement notes new booster club leadership held additional
fundraisers during the past school year to help make up for the losses allegedly caused by
Zamora, who is no longer associated with the club or the school.

Zamora was booked
into the Orange County Jail and held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

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