Embezzler Sentenced for Not Paying Taxes

A West Hills man who admitted embezzling more than $450,000 from a San Fernando glass company was sentenced to three months in federal prison for failing to pay taxes on the stolen money, according to U.S. Atty. Nora M. Manella.

George Albert Simmons, who pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion for the tax year 1993, embezzled the funds while working as vice president of finance at Anthony Manufacturing Co., a maker of glass doors for commercial refrigerators.

Simmons said he used some of the embezzled money to pay mortgages and credit card bills. He failed to report the money as income, evading the payment of more than $140,000 in federal income taxes, officials said.

Simmons was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew, who ordered him to pay all of his tax obligations.

Simmons was also sentenced to one year of home detention, to be served after his prison term.

Anthony Manufacturing did not pursue a civil case against Simmons with respect to the embezzled funds, said Mark Velarde, the company’s chief financial officer.

He said the company’s insurance policy covered the loss.

Velarde said that the embezzlement was “a shock to everyone here.

“I am surprised,” he said, “that white-collar crime is not more aggressively punished.”