In a bombshell report from the Desert Sun and reporter Janet Wilson, The Mojave Desert Land Trust said that it had been swindled out of $325,000 three years ago by a former employee. The organization told the Sun that it had taken swift action to beef up its bookkeeping and accounting processes and reported the alleged theft to law enforcement as soon as it learned of it in June 2023.
You can find the full story here: Mojave Desert Land Trust alleges staff member stole more than $325,000
San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe issued a statement, saying “It is horrendous when funds are stolen or misappropriated from any nonprofit. However, it’s even worse when it happens to a nonprofit that receives grant funding from state or federal entities, such as the California Wildlife Conservation Board, which has given the organization taxpayer-funded grants.”
She called for a higher level of audit measures in place to ensure taxpayer dollars are secured.
