SACRAMENTO – On July 21, 2016 a criminal complaint was filed against Kevin Manz, 59, involving felony charges of grand theft for embezzling money from multiple charitable organizations in the Sacramento area. According to the criminal complaint, Manz illegally directed funds from Cathedral Pioneer Church Homes Inc., Cathedral Pioneer Church Homes Foundation, and the Pioneer Foundation to personal bank and business accounts and used the funds for personal expenses such as jewelry and cars.
“Preying on charities that benefit senior citizens is despicable behavior that will not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Harris. “My office will continue to prosecute those who embezzle and misuse charitable funds for personal gain. I thank the California Department of Justice special agents for their diligent investigative efforts in this case.”
Manz is a licensed attorney in Kansas who gained the trust of charity boards and church congregations in the Sacramento area. He convinced multiple charitable organizations, including foundations that provide housing for seniors, to allow him to manage their financial accounts. According to the criminal complaint, he then embezzled more than $1 million from three charitable organizations.
Manz’s arrest is the result of a 5-month investigation by the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Investigation and the Tax Recovery and Criminal Enforcement Task Force. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Financial Fraud and Special Prosecutions Section.
“I commend California Department of Justice special agents for the wide variety of law enforcement work that they perform in their duties to protect,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “From financial crime and elder abuse to gang, drug and gun crimes.”
