Jacob Rostovsky, the CEO of the local non-profit Queer Works, has been indicted on 53 felony counts in a fraud scheme surrounding a universal basic income pilot program in Palm Springs , the Riverside County District Attorney’s office announced.
District Attorney Mike Hestrin said a jury returned a 53-count indictment against Rostovsky on Tuesday.
Rostovsky, 33, was indicted on a variety of charges including fraudulent claims, grand theft, misappropriation of public funds, insurance fraud, perjury, and money laundering, according to the DA’s office.
The indictment includes an aggravated white-collar crime enhancement due to the significant economic loss of the scheme.
Rostovsky surrendered at the DA’s Office on October 17 and posted $944,000 bail, authorities confirmed.
“I am calling on the Riverside County Civil Grand Jury to investigate any potential government malfeasance or misconduct that may have occurred in the administration of these contracts,” Hestrin said. “It is simply unacceptable that public funds are handed out with the lack of due diligence or oversight that is alleged in this case. The people of Riverside County deserve better from their public officials who have a duty to act as responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”