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March 29
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David Rubira

David Rubira

A former assistant engineer for the City of Santa Clarita pleaded no contest today to embezzling more than $533,000 and was sentenced to four years in state prison, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

David Rubira, 40, pleaded no contest to one felony count of misappropriation of public funds and was immediately sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Walgren in case PA086999.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Hassett with the Public Integrity Division said Rubira also was ordered to pay $533,570 in restitution. His vehicles were seized by prosecutors along with his home, Hassett said.

Between November 2012 and April 2015, the Newhall resident fraudulently routed cash in lieu of bond refunds to fictitious companies that he created.

He has also been ordered to make full restitution to the city of Santa Clarita.

Rubira was arrested on May 31, 2016 following an extensive investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Shortly thereafter, Rubira was terminated from his employment with the City of Santa Clarita.

The city subsequently hired KPMG to complete a forensic audit immediately following information received from the Sheriff’s Department regarding the then-alleged embezzlement.

“We are pleased that Mr. Rubira will be punished for his crimes and violation of the public’s trust,” commented Ken Striplin, City Manager.

Rubira oversaw developer funds deposited as part of the permit entitlement process. These funds were required by the City and were held pending completion of required work by developers as part of their project in the City.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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27 Comments

  1. Good!!!!! That’s where he should be. Stupid idiot!!!!!

  2. Carmen Russo Carmen Russo says:

    Only 4 years , what ???

    • Becaused he saved the tax payers the cost of a trial. He will exit prison a convicted felon with minimal job prospects unless he has relatives who are charitable. Even then, no security clearance, etc. Basically, this guy ruined his life forever. His self-inflicted punishment will continue after he gets out of prison.

  3. No one really believes he will serve four years in jail.

  4. What a shame…just stupid.

  5. Melinda Piligian Christopher Lee Piligian Michelle Posthumus

  6. Cathy Lahey Cathy Lahey says:

    And he thought he wasn’t going to get caught? Bahahaha. ?

  7. So — who out there really believes he will ever pay over $500k in restitution to the City? And — who out there is asking the City/City Council what the status is on their getting reimbursed from insurance for any claim for this loss? Based on what I know of most insurers I really doubt the City will get reimbursed for their loss claim, due to the City’s demonstrated lax accounting practices, failures to audit and violations of their own policies as shown by the KPMG audit and recommendations.

    • Not sure about an insurance claim, but it has been my experience that the DA will get what they can with respect to restitution. The City also has remedies such as a lawsuit and levy/foreclosure against any property he owned, even if it is community property with his wife. Aside from that, the restiuttion is a long slow drip.

    • Uuhh, the DA does not enforce criminal restitution
      judgments, which means the City will add this to what we now pay the City Attorney firm too.

  8. Brandon Cook Brandon Cook says:

    Ha ha ha!! What a loser!

  9. Let me get this straight his on a 4 yr layover on my tax dollar and at the same time his “not” going to pay back a dime since his doing the time, so I guess his also making 133k for the next 4 yrs? This guy just got a hella deal!

  10. Jonathan Michael Vincent

  11. 4 years is nothing are u serious wow

  12. 4 yrs wow hope they are very long for him

  13. Dan says:

    Four years means he’ll likely be out in two. Not enough deterrent for those who might follow in his footsteps.

  14. So who got fired at the City for letting it happen and not putting controls in place ? Let me guess.. no one

  15. Todd Hall Todd Hall says:

    Big shocker. Let me know when I get my money back they never paid me for work my company did. It’s a culture of corruption.

  16. Such a nice guy too. They should have just given him a warning Melinda Piligian Michelle Posthumus Amanda Emeterio

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