The former director of food services for the Los Angeles Unified School District has been charged with misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement for allegedly diverting $65,000 in district money to a culinary club he controlled.
The Los Angeles Daily News reports that David Binkle, 55, is also accused of forging a district vendor application, failing to report his outside financial interests to the district and funneling public funds into his personal bank account.
Binkle resigned from the Los Angeles district in 2015 following a critical audit of the food services program.
The audit found that under Binkle's direction, the program had problems dating back to the district’s 2011 decision to let food services forgo standard contracting practices with the expectation that administrative costs would be lowered.
Prosecutors say in a news release that between 2010 and 2014, Binkle allegedly funneled about $65,000 from Los Angeles Unified to a culinary club that he controlled as president. Binkle also is accused of placing some of
those funds into his personal bank account.
Binkle also is accused of forging an application to become a vendor to the school districgt and misappropriating school district funds. He also allegedly failed to report his outside financial interests, as is required of a public employee in his position.
