Eight people have been arrested, and a ninth is being sought in connection with what Santa Barbara County prosecutors say was the theft of about $1.7 million dollars in public funds.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office says the charges are the result of a months long investigation into financially irregularities discovered with Santa Barbara County’s Public Works Department.
Prosecutors say one of the eight arrested, Lynn Hogan, works for the county as a senior level accountant for the Public Works Department.
The prosecutors haven’t released details of what they think occurred, but say the arrests are for forgery and conspiracy charges. The investigation stems from suspicious activity with Public Works accounts discovered in July by the County Auditor-Controller’s Office.
