Two Central Valley school officials pleaded guilty Thursday in a scheme that officials say bilked the Patterson Joint Unified School District out of more than $1 million that was used to remodel homes and purchase cryptocurrency, computers and vehicles, including a Ferrari sports car.
Jeffrey Menge, the former assistant superintendent at the Stanislaus County district, and Eric Drabert, the former information technology director, pleaded guilty in Sacramento federal court to theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, crimes that could result in prison sentences of up to 10 years and $250,000 in fines.
The pleas before U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley follow FBI raids last May of Menge’s Copperopolis home and Drabert’s home in Patterson that resulted in the seizure of cash, electronics and computer equipment, according to The Modesto Bee.
Court documents say the case involved Menge embezzling between $1 million and $1.5 million from 2019 until 2022 using a phony company he created and a fictitious executive from the “company.”