An Odessa Police Department probable cause affidavit detailed a 30-year-old man was arrested after he reportedly made 95 unauthorized transactions during a 6-month period for more than $52,000 of funds as he was acting as the CEO of the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Garza Jr., 30, was charged with theft of property of more than $30,000 and but less than $150,000, a second-degree felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Chairman Benjamin Quiroz reported that its CEO, Garza, used the organization’s funds for his own expenses and the expenses of others not involved in the organization without effective authorization or consent and with the intent to defraud and deprive the organization of its property.
The Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce reportedly provided documentation of unauthorized transactions made to the organization’s Frost Bank Visa debit card, issued to Garza, between February 2021 and July 2021.
An audio recording of the organization’s meeting corroborates witness reports that Garza admitted to using the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce funds for purposes not related to the organization, the affidavit stated.
During said audio recording, Garza reportedly claimed that he had “accidentally” diverted $20,000 in funds away from the organization but an account audit showed 95 unauthorized transactions were made over a period of 6 months for an estimated total of $52,716.33.
These transactions included unauthorized electronic Zelle payments that were made from the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce account made payable to Garza and other payees and that two of these payees reported that Garza explained their payments as donations or grants authorized by the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board.
Garza was booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on Nov. 5, jail records show. He had one bond totaling $25,000 and he posted bail on Nov. 6.
