A Santa Clarita businessman is under investigation by the Fraud and Cyber Crimes division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 

Paul De La Cerda served as East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Dean until March 2021, at which time he was dismissed by the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) due to being under criminal investigation.

As of Sunday, Dec. 12, De La Cerda and his attorney have refuted all allegations pertaining to any criminal activity.

“The best part of the criminal justice system is we do not jump to conclusions,” said David Diamond, De La Cerda’s attorney. “My client has devoted his entire life to serving others. I look forward to our day in court. ”

As Dean, De La Cerda served as Director of the ELAC Foundation, which handles funds meant to help students at the college.

ELAC Operations Sergeant Arnold Kim said in the school newspaper that the investigation is focused on a college employee.

“Official stance from the department is that the entire case was handed over to the Fraud and Cyber Crimes division,” Kim said

In addition, KHTS was subpoenaed in mid-2020, as well as the Hyatt Sacramento, for records relating to inflated financial records De La Cerda filed with East Los Angeles college in connection with the annual KHTS Sacramento Bus trip.

Detectives would not reveal more to KHTS about the ongoing investigation.

Despite the investigation, De La Cerda was awarded the “Community Service” award for his years of service to the Santa Clarita community during an event last week, according to organizers.

“It’s an honor,” De La Cerda said of the award. “The community gave me so much, I was a member of the Boys and Girls Club when Jim Ventress was there, he kept me on the right track. I’m very proud to have served and continue to serve, I hope to have many, many other years of service.”

Besides his service as a board member for the Saugus Union School district including a term as the Board’s President, De La Cerda now works as the Vice President of Instruction at Cabrillo College and also currently serves as a member of the City of Santa Clarita’s Human Relations Roundtable.

“It is a really important commitment to work towards equity in Santa Clarita for all, and we don’t have equity for all in Santa Clarita,”  De La Cerda said. “We have disparity in wealth and education in Santa Clarita.”

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