FRESNO COUNTY - Gerardo G. Alvarez (56) of Fresno has been charged in a Felony Complaint with charges related to the embezzlement and misappropriation of funds from the Parlier Unified School District’s “Sunshine Club” account, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has announced.

The alleged criminal conduct came to light after a Fresno County Grand Jury report in 2015, as well as an audit that was requested by the Fresno County Office of Education in 2016. A nearly two year investigation by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office’s Public Integrity Unit culminated in the filing of criminal charges and the arrest of Gerardo Alvarez at his home without incident today, January 4, 2019. Mr. Alvarez was employed as the Superintendent of the Parlier Unified School District from 2013-2015.

The Felony Complaint alleges that from July 1, 2013 through July 31, 2014, the defendant committed the felony crimes of:
1.) Embezzlement of Property of Parlier Unified School District Valued Over $950 [P.C. § 503];
2.) Misappropriation of Public Funds by a Public Officer [P.C. § 424(a)(1)]; 
3.) Misappropriation of Public Funds by a Public Officer [P.C. § 424(a)(1)].

If convicted of the charges and allegations, Mr. Alvarez faces a potential sentence of up to four (4) years in custody. Mr. Alvarez is currently being processed at the Fresno County Jail. He is expected to be in Department 96 of the Fresno County Superior Court for his Arraignment on Monday, January 7, 2019, at 8:30 a.m.

This case was investigated, and is being prosecuted by, the Office’s Public Integrity Unit. The Public Integrity Unit was formed by District Attorney Smittcamp shortly after taking office in 2015 in order to combat corruption through the investigation and prosecution of voter fraud and criminal misconduct of elected and appointed officials at all levels of government within Fresno County.