The former assistant city manager of La Cañada Flintridge has been charged with embezzling nearly $200,000 in city funds through an alleged long-running fraud scheme, Los Angeles County prosecutors announced.
Mr. Carl Alameda, 45, faces 11 felony counts of embezzlement and 23 counts of insurance fraud. Prosecutors allege that Alameda diverted insurance payments meant for the city into his personal bank account over a six-year period. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on May 14 and is scheduled to return to court on July 23 for a preliminary hearing.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Alameda used official city letterhead between 2016 and 2022 to send demand letters to insurance companies seeking reimbursement for property damage in La Cañada Flintridge. He allegedly falsified invoices and directed payments to an address he controlled. Checks were then issued by the insurers to the City of La Cañada Flintridge but sent to Alameda’s attention. Prosecutors say he deposited those checks—totaling approximately $193,086—into his own account.
“It is a major disservice and betrayal of trust when public officials place their own selfish interests over the communities they serve,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a public statement. “If you exploit your position for your own greed at the public’s expense, my office will file charges and hold you accountable.”
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Joel Wilson of the Public Integrity Division and remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Alameda was employed by the City of Ojai at the time the charges were announced. He was placed on leave by that city on May 15 and terminated the following day, according to Ojai officials.
City officials in La Cañada Flintridge said they discovered discrepancies after receiving misdirected insurance checks and immediately cooperated with investigators. Alameda left his role with the city in early 2023.
The charges filed are allegations. Alameda is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 33 years in state prison.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
