Ex-Contra Costa fire chief convicted of stealing funds

A former battalion chief with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District was convicted of felony grand theft in connection with misusing public money, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office said.

Prosecutors said that from 2014 to 2019, Louis Manzo Jr., 58, stole Contra Costa County Fire Protection District funds by lying on timekeeping records and paid time-off requests, in addition to redirecting money for personal use.

The fraudulent salary payments totaled more than $46,000, the district attorney’s office said.

Manzo pleaded no contest to one count of felony grand theft, the district attorney’s office said.

His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Manzo was ordered to serve 30 days of custody time through the sheriff ’s Work Alternative Program, where Manzo will be assigned to worksites rather than serving traditional jail time.

Manzo must also pay restitution and fines, but the total had not been determined as of Thursday.

His pension will also be impacted, the district attorney’s office said.

Manzo also faces one year of court probation, 30 hours of community service and must stay away from all official fire district locations in addition to complying with searches and seizures of financial records and other related materials, the district attorney’s office said.

“Acts of public corruption erode the integrity of our institutions that are here to serve our communities,” Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said in a news release. “The resolution in this case ensures that the misappropriated funds are returned to the Fire District.”