The Sheriff’s Department is investigating a case of suspected embezzlement at the Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce. Just five months after taking over as president of the chamber’s board of directors, the board filed a report with the Sheriff’s Department July 22, accusing Carey Alderson of using the chamber’s credit card to pay his personal gas and electric bills, totaling $678.65. The alleged theft was first noticed in April, at which time Executive Director Christine Hoenigmann contacted Alderson. The report states that Alderson made one payment of $160 to repay the debt, but since then, she said he has ignored all communication. Alderson and Vice President Dean Moore, and board member Maryse Kintz all resigned from the board July 12. The board of directors held two special meetings, July 20 and July 21, at which time it voted to file a police report against Alderson alleging embezzlement. Nearly a week after the chamber reported the theft, no arrests or charges have been made as of yet.
