IRVINE, CA (September 10, 2012):  Irvine Police Detectives arrested Cecilia Zamora (7-18-73) of Rancho Santa Margarita this morning for embezzling funds from the Beckman High School Cheer Booster Club.

Zamora, a parent volunteer, was the club’s treasurer between 2009 and 2011.  The missing funds were discovered last year when the new treasurer found collection notices for invoices Zamora had previously documented as paid. Detectives believe Zamora wrote checks to herself but indicated they were written to pay bills for the club’s coaching stipends and uniforms.  The checks were written for $2,000 to $3,000 each over her tenure as the club’s treasurer totaling approximately $16,000.  During the course of the investigation, detectives also identified suspicious deposits to personal accounts connected to Zamora.

The Tustin Unified School District and school site officials have been working closely with the Irvine Police Department throughout this investigation.  New leadership of the booster club conducted additional fundraising activities during the past school year to supplement the loss and guarantee the continued support of the student’s activities. Zamora is no longer associated with the club or the school.

The arrest was made at Zamora’s place of employment in Orange, where she works in a corporate office for a financial institution. She was booked into the Orange County Jail and is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

IRVINE POLICE DEPARTMENT
One Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 724-7000  www.irvinepd.org
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