Boys, Girls Club Director Suspected of Fraud

PLACENTIA — Investigators were reviewing records Thursday seized from the Boys and Girls Club of Placentia after the arrest of the organization’s executive director on suspicion of trading community-service credits for contributions.

Albert P. Rizzo, 52, of Corona, was arraigned Wednesday on two charges of accepting donations from undercover police officers last fall in return for signing work sheets for community service that was not completed.

Police used a search warrant to seize some of the club’s financial records.

“We’re in the process of having a forensic accountant look at the books to determine whether we can identify any other fraudulent probation sign-offs,” said Corrinne Loomis, Placentia police spokeswoman. “I imagine they would be looking at the probationers too.”

Officials for the Orange County Probation Department are assessing the case and will decide whether to launch their own investigation into how community service hours were worked off at the Boys and Girls Club, said department spokesman Rod Speer.

“The allegations concern us,” Speer said. “We’re looking further into it.”

Despite the charges against Rizzo, members of the board of directors said they are standing behind their executive director, described by board member Steven Vargas as a “wonderful, caring human being.”

Vargas, a former president of the board, said Rizzo worked miracles for the organization, which, like many nonprofit groups, is constantly grappling with funding as it serves 650 Placentia youngsters.

“He has done so much for so long with so little that it’s just incredible,” said Vargas. “The board of directors discussed the situation [after the arrest], and we fully support Al. We’re waiting for his decision on what he’s going to do. We are fully backing Al and we know and trust that this will blow over.”

The alleged scheme came to light last fall when an unidentified criminal informed his probation officer that word was out on the street that community-service sentences could be bought out, Loomis said.

“In doing an investigation of its own, probation learned that a disproportionate number of probationers were requesting that their community service hours be served at the Placentia Boys and Girls Club,” she said.

Placentia police sent in an undercover officer supposedly sentenced to 120 hours of community service, which he bought out for a $250 donation, Loomis said.

“He was given a tax-deductible receipt for his donation to the Boys Club, and then the hours were falsified,” Loomis said. A second undercover officer paid $200 a month later to get out of a separate community service sentence of 80 hours, she said.

Rizzo was arrested after a morning meeting of the Placentia Rotary Club, where he serves as president. He was arraigned late Wednesday and released on his own recognizance. A pretrial hearing is set for Feb. 13.

Rizzo was not expected at work Thursday, according to a staff member who answered the phone and declined further comment. Other attempts to reach Rizzo were unsuccessful.

The Boys and Girls Club underwent a $300,000 face-lift last summer that was done by more than 300 volunteers through the Orange County Corporate Combined Volunteer Project. Despite that project, the club faced a financial crunch and in October was publicly seeking donations to pay for an instructor in an arts and crafts room added during the summer renovations.

Part of the crunch, Rizzo said at the time, stemmed from cuts in support from the United Way, which halved its annual donation of $20,000 to $10,000.

Vargas said Rizzo remains in his job and has yet to discuss the charges with the board, including how much money the organization might have received from probationers.

“Nobody knows what transpired, but we know that there was not any personal gain,” Vargas said. “It was strictly for the kids of Placentia.”