The spokesperson for the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District says the arrest of the agency’s chief financial officer is “stunning” news.
Prosecutors say AC Transit CFO Lewis Green Clinton Jr. has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling more than a half-million dollars from his East Oakland church.
Clinton, 57, is charged with four counts of grand theft.
He is accused of diverting the funds from Allen Temple Baptist Church between 2007 and 2013. Clinton is a parishioner at the 5,000-member church and served on three volunteer boards.
According to court documents, he used the money to pay for a luxury car, private schools for his children, mortgage payments and a golf club membership.
AC Transit spokesperson Clarence Johnson said Clinton has been placed on paid administrative leave indefinitely, "in part to allow him time and space to deal with the allegations he's now facing.”
Clinton faces up to five years in prison if convicted. It wasn't immediately known if he has retained a lawyer. He was released from custody on $100,000 bail.
Johnson said the charges against Clinton are not directly related to AC Transit.
"At this point we have no reason to believe there's anything irregular in our financing,” Johnson said.
Johnson said AC Transit has a tight system of checks and balances, including three annual audits. He said the CFO is responsible for the agency's $325 million budget.
In a statement, Allen Temple Baptist Church said it is cooperating with authorities in their investigation.
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“The Church has done and continues to do everything possible to ensure that any funds that come into the Church are used appropriately and in support of Allen Temple Baptist’s charitable efforts.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
