Former top executive embezzled from synagogue

Eric Levine yesterday (April 7) admitted embezzling $394,873 from La Jolla's Beth El, of which he was executive director from 2007 to December of last year. He had control over the synagogue's bank and credit card accounts and bookkeeping records. He began his embezzling in 2008, he admitted.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed suit in Dallas, alleging that from 2009 to 2012, Matthew Sample of San Diego raised almost $1 million from investors, saying he would trade on their behalf. But he diverted one-third of the money for his personal use and to make payments to other investors, says the agency.

Sven Erik Ulsteen, a former executive of a Channel Islands company, pleaded guilty today (April 8) to using counterfeit and forged securities to take over $2 million from investors. He also defrauded the Internal Revenue Service of $200,000, says the government. He has been in custody since last December when he tried to flee his San Diego home and go to Norway.