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There has been a lot of anger towards the government these days, and not without good reason. It seems like every day, we are hearing about another act of misconduct, fraud, and abuse of power. We trust our public officials to take care of us and our tax money, but some people just can’t help themselves, indulging in public funds as though it were their own personal piggy bank.
The Fresno Bee reports that police have arrested 40-year old John David Rivera, a member of the Biola Community District who is accused of embezzling taxpayer money to buy himself all sorts of luxury items, including not one, but two Ford Mustangs.
Rivera’s arrest comes after a 3-month long investigation after accusations of misuse of public money began to surface. No one can fault Rivera’s tastes, that’s for sure. He stands accused of embezzling $61,000, including a $25,000 deposit directly into his bank account.
He also stands accused of using public funds to purchase, among other things, a 51-inch 3D plasma television, several vials of steroids, a 2005 Ford Mustang and a 2003 Mustang convertible (one for sun and one for fun?). Rivera already has a rather long rapsheet, including misdemeanor welfare fraud in 1998, but the scales of justice will soon weigh whether or not he is guilty of wanting a couple of Mustangs a little too much.
