Former California Youth Shelter Administrator To Be Sentenced Friday

Lydia Kathleen Fitzgerald, 48, formerly of Los Alamitos, California, is expected to be sentenced Friday for embezzling more than $435,000 from the Casa Youth Shelter where she had been employed as executive assistant. According to authorities, from April 2004 to December 2007, Fitzgerald used her position to forge checks written to herself and open a credit card in the name of the shelter to do home remodelling, go on expensive vacations, purchase automobiles, a boat and other personal luxuries. Fitzgerald, who plead guilty last month, was ordered by the court to pay $390,000 in restitution plus $93,000 in back taxes. She is expected to be sentenced to four years in prison.

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Update: Fitzgerald was sentenced to 4 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $390,000 in restitution to the Casa Youth Shelter. She must also repay the state Franchise Tax Board more than $93,000 plus 10% interest from the date of loss.