Former Director Of Yosemite National Park Child Care Center Charged With Embezzlement

FRESNO, Calif. — Charity Brocchini, 40, of Sonora, has been charged with embezzling more than $42,000 from the Yosemite National Park Child Care Center, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. On Thursday, August 7, 2014, a federal grand jury in Fresno returned an indictment charging her with two counts of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement concerning program receiving federal funds.

According to the indictment, between 2005 and 2009, Brocchini was the director of the Yosemite National Park Child Care Center (YNPCCC) and the Yosemite Child Care Center, a nonprofit organization operating child care facilities in Yosemite Valley and El Portal. The indictment alleges that Brocchini embezzled $42,608 by paying herself extra paychecks, and using the YNPCCC’s funds to write checks to herself, pay her personal car and insurance payments, pay her outstanding debts and credit cards, and make personal purchases at retail stores.

This case is the product of an investigation by the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch and the United Sates Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Mark J. McKeon is prosecuting the case.

Ivan Negroni, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services San Francisco region state: “We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney to root out all forms of waste, fraud and abuse in federal grant programs.”

If convicted, Brocchini faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.