Salvador Galvan, Embezzlement, California 2023

LOS ANGELES – Salvador Galvan, a 47-year-old former deputy city treasurer for the City of Compton, was arrested today on federal charges related to the theft of more than $3.7 million of city funds.

Galvan, who worked in the Compton Treasurer’s Office for more than 20 years, was responsible for tallying the cash received by the city as payment for parking tickets, business licenses and other fees. After the cash was counted, Galvan prepared the money for deposit into a city bank account.

According to a criminal complaint filed late yesterday in United States District Court, Galvan skimmed cash from the daily receipts on numerous occasions. An audit of the city’s cash deposits ‘identified discrepancies which vary from approximately $200 to $8,000 per day,’ according to the affidavit in support of the complaint.

The FBI interviewed Galvan’s supervisor, who ‘reflected about Galvan’s time in the office, his unexplained affluence, and his generosity,’ according to the affidavit. The supervisor told investigators that Galvan went from driving an ‘old Toyota’ to increasingly luxurious vehicles, including a black Audi sedan. Galvan told his supervisor that he purchased a residence in La Mirada and demolished the house so he could rebuild it – all on an annual salary of approximately $60,000.

‘The people of Compton deserved better,’ said Acting United States Attorney Sandra R. Brown. ‘This defendant stole millions of dollars intended to help residents, placing his own greed over their interests.’

Galvan faces federal charges stemming from allegations that he stole $3,721,924 from May 2010 through December 2016. If convicted of the embezzlement charge, Galvan would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the FBI, which is receiving assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The case against Galvan is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel O’Brien of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.

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