News Releases
June 4, 2025: Former Los Angeles County Retirement System Employee Charged With Grand Theft, Conflict of Interest
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If convicted as charged, Carlos Marquez faces up to six years, eight months in state prison
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that a 42-year-old former interim chief security officer for the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has been charged with pocketing nearly $20,000 via a company he created while on the job and failing to disclose the conflict of interest under penalty of perjury.
“Public service is meant to be a position of trust, not a way for people to enrich themselves through fraudulent actions,” said District Attorney Hochman. “This is an example of why government employees must sign disclosure forms from the California Fair Political Practices Commission so there is full transparency. Our office will protect the public’s interest and hold those accountable who put their own greed ahead of their obligations to the people they serve.”
Carmelo Marquez (dob 8/17/82) was charged in case 25CJCF03087 with one felony count of grand theft, three felony counts of conflict of interest and two felony counts of perjury. Marquez pleaded not guilty yesterday and is scheduled to return to court on July 17 for a preliminary hearing setting in Department 37 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
The case was filed for warrant on May 29.
Marquez initially worked as an independent contractor doing information security work for LACERA. In February 2023, he was named LACERA’s interim chief security officer. He is accused of failing to disclose under penalty of perjury that he had launched a business that sold software products and provided technical support directly to LACERA.
Marquez allegedly used his position to illegally funnel public contracts worth roughly $120,000 through his own firm and profited $19,904 through those transactions. He no longer works for LACERA.
If convicted as charged, he faces up to six years and eight months in state prison.
Marquez was recently sued by LACERA. The lawsuit alleges fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and conflict of interest.
The case remains under investigation by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by the Public Integrity Division.
The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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