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Woman pleads no contest to embezzling thousands from Delano Philippine Weekend Committee
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A 67-year-old woman has pleaded no contest to embezzling thousands of dollars from the Delano Philippine Weekend Committee to buy gifts for men she met online, according to court records.
Delilah Mascarinas on Tuesday pleaded no contest to both felony counts filed against her — embezzlement by a public officer and check fraud. She was charged in 2023.
Prosecutors say she faces up to three years and eight months in prison, but the court-indicated sentence is felony probation with restitution.
Sentencing is set for Aug. 6 at the Delano courthouse.
After starting an Instagram account in 2022, Mascarinas engaged in conversations with numerous men who claimed to be in the military, and received eight marriage proposals, according to her statement contained in Delano police reports.
Mascarinas told police the men asked for gift cards to pay for internet, games and music.
She said she bought the cards through an account that was designated for use by the Delano Philippine Weekend Committee, which annually organizes a two-day event celebrating Filipino culture. She said she meant to pay the money back.
'And it just spiraled out of control,' she told police. 'And when I wasn't able to pay it back then that's when everything happened.'
An investigation determined around $20,000 was missing. Mascarinas had access to the committee's account for years but said she didn't use it for personal expenses until 2022.
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