Woman Denies Stealing Bernson Political Funds
A Van Nuys woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that she stole more than $100,000 from two political committees of Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson.
Toni Lee Corpuel, 46, a former bookkeeper for an accounting firm that Bernson hired to act as treasurer for his political committees, entered the plea in Van Nuys Municipal Court to three counts of grand theft.
Corpuel was arrested Jan. 30 after $126,629 was discovered missing from funds for Bernson’s Office-Holder Committee and Bernson for Lt. Governor 1994 Committee, according to campaign finance reports.
Bernson said in his campaign reports that two banks where the committees’ funds were deposited failed to follow safeguards by allowing Corpuel to withdraw money with checks signed by her alone, when two signatures were required. The reports said the banks would repay Bernson’s committees for the losses.
Corpuel remains free on $15,000 bail. Judge Kenneth Freeman scheduled a March 1 preliminary hearing.
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