People v. Pecora CA2/6

Facts Between 2003 and 2008, appellant worked for Fernando Vargas, a professional boxer, as the manager of Vargas' cell phone store and as one of Vargas' boxing managers. During that period, appellant forged Vargas' signature on more than 100 checks. In addition, appellant misappropriated about 30 other checks that had actually been signed by Vargas but were intended for a different payee. Appellant does not dispute that he committed the forgeries or that he stole Vargas' money. Vargas testified that his closely held corporation, Ferocious, Inc., opened a cell phone store in Oxnard in 2003. Appellant managed the store and was paid a semimonthly salary of $3,750. The store was never profitable. Vargas closed it in 2007. After the store closed, Vargas did not pay appellant a salary. He did, however, pay appellant bonuses after his professional fights and he frequently paid for appellant's food, travel and clothing. Vargas testified that he was the only person authorized to sign checks for Ferocious, Inc., including payroll checks for the cell phone store. At trial, Vargas looked through a series of checks that were issued to appellant by Ferocious, Inc.,…