Jared Palmer Gets 30 Months for $455K San Diego Workforce Heist

Jared Palmer, 42, a former facilities manager in San Diego, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for stealing $455,606.82 from the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), a nonprofit that delivers job training and employment services across the county. The theft, uncovered after a multi-year scheme, involved hundreds of falsified invoices and the outright theft of electronics, smart thermostats, and prepaid debit cards purchased with federal grant money.

U.S. District Court Judge Larry A. Burns handed down the sentence on February 12, 2018, ordering full restitution of $455,606.82. According to court records, from 2011 to 2016, Palmer abused his authority by directing janitorial contractors to buy personal items under the guise of official purchases. He then replaced real invoices with forged ones, making it appear as though all charges were for cleaning services—allowing the fraud to go undetected for half a decade.

Palmer was convicted of Theft of Federal Program Funds, a felony under 18 U.S.C. § 666, due to the SDWP’s reliance on federal grants. Judge Burns emphasized the calculated nature of the crime, calling it ‘hundreds of discrete thefts’ carried out with ‘great stealth, and great planning.’ He warned that the fraud likely would have continued if not exposed, inflicting deeper harm on a vital community institution.

The San Diego Workforce Partnership serves thousands each year, connecting job seekers with training and employment opportunities while supporting local employers. U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman condemned the breach of trust: ‘This organization does important work… This sentence shows that those who attempt to steal taxpayer dollars intended for worthy causes like this one will be brought to justice.’

FBI Special Agent in Charge John A. Brown, whose San Diego Field Office led the investigation alongside the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, stressed that federal oversight remains sharp. ‘Federal grant dollars were stolen… by Mr. Palmer, a trusted manager at this non-profit organization,’ Brown said. ‘The FBI will continue to expose and bring criminals to justice who attempt to line their pockets at the expense of federally funded programs intended to benefit our community.’

Case Number 17-cr-2157-LAB marks another high-profile conviction in the federal crackdown on misuse of public funds. Palmer now faces years behind bars while the SDWP works to rebuild trust and strengthen internal financial controls. The case stands as a stark warning: even the quietest, most methodical theft won’t stay hidden forever.