Sheckler's CFO Pleads Not Guilty to Embezzlement Charges

November 25, 2009

Vol. 4, Issue 49, December 3-9, 2009

By Norb Garrett

The former Chief Financial Officer for pro skateboarder Ryan Sheckler posted $250,000 bail this week after pleading “not guilty” to two felony counts of grand theft following his arrest on Nov. 13. Matthew Mercuro, 36, of San Clemente, was arrested by Huntington Beach police at his office in San Clemente after employees at Sheckler’s company noticed suspicious transfers of large sums of cash during an internal review of the company’s finances. According to the District Attorney’s office, Mercuro is suspected of embezzling more than $365,000 and transferring the monies into personal bank accounts including his wife’s and a friend’s.

Brian Mulherin, who is prosecuting the case for the District Attorney’s office, said that because Mercuro posted bail, the preliminary hearing originally set for Nov. 30 has been moved to January 11. Mercuro pled not guilty at his arraignment on Nov. 19.

Mercuro’s San Clemente-based attorney, E. Nicholas Hansen, said certain aspects of the investigation raise questions. “We need to determine why the Huntington Beach Police Department conducted an investigation knowing none of the alleged crimes occurred within their jurisdiction,” said Hansen, who specializes in white collar crimes, “and whether they acted at the request and direction of a family member of a well-known public figure.”

If convicted, Mercuro faces a maximum sentence of six years and eight months in state prison.

source:

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