CSULB Employees Stole Tens Of Thousands From University In Time Card Scheme: DA

LONG BEACH, CA — One current and one former Cal State Long Beach employee pleaded not guilty this week to grand theft charges in connection to accusations they submitted fraudulent time sheets certifying hundreds of hours of nonexistent work, according to the district attorney's office.

Oscar Perez Almanza, 39, and Hender Noe Maxwell, 38, both pleaded not guilty Monday to one felony count of conspiracy to commit grand theft and one felony count of grand theft, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors claims that after Maxwell — a former grounds worker — left his job in the Athletics Department, he submitted time sheets falsely certifying hundreds of hours worked for approximately $36,560 during the 2022 calendar year. Almanza — a field supervisor — approved the time sheets despite knowing Maxwell no longer worked for the department, according to the DA's office.

Once the university paid Maxwell, he split the money with Almanza, prosecutors claim.

"I am appalled at the brazen acts of criminality allegedly committed by employees of California State University, Long Beach, an institution that depends on public funding and public trust," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. "Stealing from California's venerated public university system steals from taxpayers and the thousands of students who rely on the university for affordable tuition and educational and career opportunities."

Almanza and Maxwell were released on their own recognizance with the condition that they relinquish their passports, prosecutors said.

The case was investigated by the CSULB Police Department.