Former Redondo Beach police officer sentenced in embezzling case
We said a few weeks ago that former Redondo Beach police Sgt. Gene Tomatani had pleaded guilty and would get 90 days jail for stealing money from his own police union. Well, he got formally sentenced today.
From City News Service:
LOS ANGELES -- A former sergeant was sentenced today to 90 days in jail and three years probation for embezzling more than $72,000 from the Redondo Beach Police Officers' Association while he was the union's president and
treasurer.
Gene Tomatani, 40, pleaded guilty last month to one count of grand theft by embezzlement. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to participate in a Gamblers Anonymous program for a year.
He paid $75,388.56 in restitution prior to being sentenced, according to
prosecutors.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Norm Shapiro ordered Tomatani to surrender April 20 to
begin serving his three-month jail term.
According to the criminal complaint, filed in December, the theft occurred between May 1,
2004, and May 31, 2008.
His attorney, Vicki Podberesky, said earlier that her client was "taking responsibility for his
actions."
Tomatani was relieved of duty in November 2008 after officials learned about the missing
money through an audit, prosecutors said. He submitted his resignation in October while
administrative hearings were pending.
From City News Service:
LOS ANGELES -- A former sergeant was sentenced today to 90 days in jail and three years probation for embezzling more than $72,000 from the Redondo Beach Police Officers' Association while he was the union's president and
treasurer.
Gene Tomatani, 40, pleaded guilty last month to one count of grand theft by embezzlement. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to participate in a Gamblers Anonymous program for a year.
He paid $75,388.56 in restitution prior to being sentenced, according to
prosecutors.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Norm Shapiro ordered Tomatani to surrender April 20 to
begin serving his three-month jail term.
According to the criminal complaint, filed in December, the theft occurred between May 1,
2004, and May 31, 2008.
His attorney, Vicki Podberesky, said earlier that her client was "taking responsibility for his
actions."
Tomatani was relieved of duty in November 2008 after officials learned about the missing
money through an audit, prosecutors said. He submitted his resignation in October while
administrative hearings were pending.
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Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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good about time a cop gets to go behind bars
slap on the wrist.
Hip,hip horayyyy. Nice to know that the police arent abouve the law. It being RBPD.makes it even better. Hope he gets prison time.