El Dorado Hills, CA (Feb 5, 2025) By Cris Alarcon – Eric Rego, a 39-year-old resident of El Dorado Hills, has been arrested and charged with defrauding the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) of approximately $3.3 million. Rego, who served as the after-school program coordinator, allegedly orchestrated a scheme involving the purchase and resale of electronic devices intended for student use.
According to a federal indictment unsealed this week, from July 2020 to May 2024, Rego utilized funds allocated for MDUSD’s after-school program to purchase iPads, MacBooks, GoPro cameras, and other electronic devices. Instead of deploying these devices for educational purposes, he allegedly resold them for personal profit.
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Rego collaborated with a nonprofit organization contracted to manage the district’s after-school program. He is accused of directing a nonprofit employee to submit falsified invoices, falsely claiming the devices were necessary for the program. These devices were never delivered to the schools or utilized by students.
MDUSD Superintendent Adam Clark emphasized the district’s commitment to accountability, stating, “Educating our children is our most pressing priority. Anyone who attempts to misuse funds intended for the education of our students will be held accountable. We are committed to full transparency and will continue to take decisive action to safeguard public resources and protect the integrity of our programs.”
Rego was scheduled to appear in federal district court in Sacramento on Wednesday. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and significant fines for each count of mail fraud. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Concord Police Department.
This case underscores the importance of vigilant oversight in educational institutions to ensure that resources intended for student enrichment are used appropriately.
