PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Richard Alan Abrusci, the former president and chief executive officer of Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada, remains unconvicted as federal criminal proceedings against him continue in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
The distinction is important because, despite extensive allegations outlined by federal prosecutors, no jury has found Abrusci guilty, and no conviction has been entered in the case. Under the American legal system, he remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Abrusci is a familiar figure to some residents of El Dorado County. Prior to the federal charges becoming public, he was active in nonprofit and community circles and was seen at events associated with Goodwill, including a press conference at the organization’s Placerville location.
Federal prosecutors first announced charges against Abrusci in December 2023 after a grand jury indictment alleged that he fraudulently diverted approximately $1.4 million from a nonprofit organization operating retail stores throughout California and Nevada while serving in executive leadership roles. Prosecutors later expanded the case through a superseding indictment filed in April 2024.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the superseding indictment alleges Abrusci embezzled funds from three nonprofit organizations between 2016 and 2023 through a business known as Resolution Arrangement Services, which prosecutors described as a fictitious entity used to receive payments for services that were never performed. The superseding indictment includes 12 counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and three counts involving monetary transactions with allegedly unlawful proceeds.
Federal authorities emphasized that the charges are allegations only.
“The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,”
the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated when announcing the superseding indictment.
Court records show Abrusci pleaded not guilty following his initial appearance after the original indictment was unsealed in December 2023. Publicly available court information indicates the matter remains active, with no conviction reported as of the latest federal court updates.
The nonprofit organization identified in the original indictment was not named by prosecutors. However, reporting by regional news organizations and statements from Goodwill representatives linked the allegations to Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada, where Abrusci served as chief executive officer until 2021.
For El Dorado County residents who may remember Abrusci’s involvement in local nonprofit activities and public events, the case serves as a reminder that criminal allegations and criminal convictions are not the same. While prosecutors continue to pursue the charges, the final outcome remains to be determined by the federal court process.
Public Records and Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of California: Superseding Indictment Announcement (April 2024)
- U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of California: Original Indictment Announcement (December 2023)
- Sacramento Bee reporting on the federal proceedings
