Golden Gate Transit Employee Arrested in Embezzlement Case

A 34-year-old man who worked for the Golden Gate Bridge,
Highway and Transportation District was arrested Thursday for allegedly using
district credit cards to buy personal items worth nearly $100,000,
a district spokeswoman said.

James Brewer, a Rohnert Park resident who had worked for the
district for about 11 years, was arrested after accountants with the district
discovered he had allegedly embezzled about $98,000, district spokeswoman
Mary Currie said.

District officials contacted the Marin County District Attorney's
Office and San Rafael police, who arrested Brewer Thursday, Currie said.

Brewer was making about $75,700 per year as a buyer with the
district's bus division in San Rafael, a job in which he bought "everything
from the nuts and bolts to the upholstery for the buses," Currie said.

Along with spending the money on bus equipment, Brewer was also
allegedly using a district credit card to buy home electronics, and building
supplies and tools, according to Currie.

He was fired after the improper purchases came to light, she said.
Currie said the district is "going to prosecute and seek full
restitution" from Brewer.

The district is also combing through records of its procurement
system, which Brewer was a part of, to see if any other improprieties pop up.
"We're not going to tolerate this kind of system break-in ... and
we will do everything we can to not allow something like this to happen in
the future," Currie said.

Deputy District Attorney Linda Witong said Brewer posted bail and was released from Marin County Jail. She said she has not filed charges against him yet.

Bay City News Service