Esperanza High School
According to district officials, Esperanza High School in Anaheim has regained over $1.5 million that was stolen by a previous finance clerk. The campus intends to utilize this money for various programs, campus improvements, and discounted event tickets.
Cynthia Marie Campbell
In 2020, Cynthia Marie Campbell, aged 65 and resident of Midway City, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment for embezzling more than $700,000 from the school’s Associated Student Body. A thorough assessment revealed that she had been siphoning funds for an extended period, including writing checks under her husband and late mother’s names.
$1.5 Million Dollar Fraud
After Campbell retired in 2017, the discrepancies were brought to light by a new finance clerk. Further investigation exposed the embezzlement of $1.5 million, as stated by a district official.
Embezzled Funds Recovered
District spokesperson Alyssa Griffiths stated that the embezzled funds were initially collected by students for different ASB-related activities and projects. After the incident, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District filed an insurance claim and was duly compensated for the loss incurred by the high school.
Strategy Moving Forward For Esperanza
A spending strategy was then formulated by the district’s board, ASB, and school administrators. Their plan includes providing financial aid to clubs and athletic programs, offering event tickets at discounted prices, and improving facilities such as the gym, library, and theater.
Although unfortunate, Principal Gina Aguilar believes that this incident will have a positive long-term impact on the school community at Esperanza High School. Prior to her arrest, Campbell had been employed in the district since 1998. In March 2020, she pleaded guilty to 222 counts of misappropriation or embezzlement of public funds along with enhancements for white-collar crime exceeding $500,000.
