By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Youth soccer embezzler gets two years in prison
Anita Ybarra
Anita Ybarra

Anita Ybarra, the Keyes woman convicted of stealing several thousands of dollars from the Turlock Youth Soccer Association, was sentenced to two years in prison Monday in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

Ybarra, 43, pled no contest to the embezzlement charge against her on Oct. 6, 2010. According to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, Ybarra stole $24,175 from the Turlock Youth Soccer Association from April 2007 to January 2008.

Ybarra was facing a maximum of three years behind bars.

“Given the amount of money she stole and a prior conviction for the same type of offense, we felt the two years was an appropriate sentence,” said Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Anthony Colacito.

In addition to the prison sentence, Ybarra was ordered to pay restitution, Colacito said.

During her time with the TYSA, Ybarra was heavily invested with the youth organization, serving as an assistant coach, tournament coordinator, board member, and their bookkeeper, which gave her access to the group’s funds.

The investigation into Ybarra began in 2008 when the TYSA was notified of several account discrepancies related to the association’s competitive league.

After the TYSA conducted an internal investigation they turned the matter over to the Turlock Police Department, which launched its own investigation into the embezzlement allegations. Ybarra was arrested on Aug. 25, 2009.

Ybarra wrote numerous checks to herself during the nine month period, according to the arrest warrant. The checks from the TYSA require a second signature and most of the ones in question had the second signature of a relative of Ybarra’s, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states that Ybarra sent an e-mail to the association’s commissioner in May 2008 that said the relative had nothing to do with the checks. She also allegedly said she had been a “bad bookkeeper.”

The checks were drawn from three accounts from Bank of America. Two were from accounts used for tournaments and one was a team account.

Ybarra’s embezzlement conviction is not her first. She has a prior conviction for stealing thousands of dollars from the Merced County Tax Collector’s Office between 1991 to 1995. In 1997 she was sentenced to two years in prison for embezzlement by a public officer.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.