Big theft from Workforce Partnership

Jared Palmer, former facilities manager for the San Diego Workforce Partnership, pleaded guilty yesterday (August 3) to embezzling more than $450,000 from the organization that provides job training and placement to county residents.

As facilities manager, Palmer was responsible for approving invoices from janitorial companies. Between 2011 and 2016, Palmer instructed contractors to purchase items that he claimed were for partnership use. He then stole the items and replaced the invoices with false ones that made it appear that all the charges were for janitorial services.

Because the partnership is funded largely with federal money, Palmer pleaded guilty to theft of federal government funds. The maximum penalty is ten years imprisonment, a fine that is three times the amount stolen, and three years of supervised release.

The facilities involved were the partnership's main office in City Heights, and six America's Jobs Center of California offices in Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, El Cajon and two in San Diego.