SANTA ANA, California – The former deputy treasurer for the City of Compton was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison on charges stemming from his embezzlement of more than $3.7 million of city funds over the course of six years.

Salvador Galvan, 47, of La Mirada, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, on one count of theft from an organization receiving federal funds.

According to court documents, when Galvan entered his guilty plea in July, 2017, he admitted that he stole $3,721,924 from the City of Compton from May 2010 through December 2016.

Galvan, who worked as the Deputy Treasurer 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 court records, Galvan skimmed cash from the daily receipts on numerous occasions, sometimes taking as much as $8,000 per day.

Galvan has agreed to forfeit to the government the remaining proceeds of his embezzlement, which includes cash and cars purchased with the stolen money. He was further ordered to pay restitution to the City of Compton of $3,721,924.

In conjunction with Galvan's guilty plea, his wife – Rosa Maria Galvan – was also sentenced today on federal money laundering charges related to the embezzled funds. She was sentenced to three years' probation, 12 months of home detention and 800 hours of community service. Rosa Galvan is jointly liable for the $3,721,924 in restitution.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel O'Brien, Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture Section.

Component(s): USAO – California, Central

Press Release Number: 17-197 Updated November 3, 2017

Central District of California DOJ / 17-197 / November 3, 2017