Embezzling, forging one's way into Rancho Santa Fe

Alfonso Fierro Jr. wanted to live the high life. He did. He was controller of WSA Distributing from 2008 through 2012. In 2012, he was named chief financial officer. On the last day of February, he admitted to forging 110 WSA checks, totaling $2.48 million, between 2011 and 2012.

He bought a $2.79 million house in Rancho Santa Fe. He forged WSA checks to put down $1.8 million on the house. Then he created a letter on WSA letterhead supposedly signed by the WSA chief executive officer. The letter claimed that Fierro had a base salary of $451,000 and was guaranteed an annual bonus of $200,000. But his actual salary was $125,000. Fierro forged the chief executive's signature and submitted it to a bank to complete the purchase of the home.

He also bought a country-club membership, luxury autos, jewelry, and watches with forged WSA checks. As part of his plea, he is supposed to pay WSA $2.48 million.