A former manager recently charged with stealing from retired professional boxer Fernando Vargas says the case stems from false allegations by the two-time world champion.
In an interview with the Ventura County Star this week, Joseph Pecora said the charges are unfounded and he lashed out at his former employer and close friend. He described Vargas as a vindictive “spendaholic” who was responsible for his own financial problems and had a history of firing associates for unfounded theft allegations.
“Everybody who’s ever been involved with him he thinks has stolen from him,” said Pecora, 54, of Camarillo. “I am totally innocent of all charges, period.”
Pecora was arrested June 14 in Camarillo on suspicion of grand theft by embezzlement and forgery after an investigation that began several years ago when Vargas reported a theft, authorities said. He was charged with those crimes June 17.
Pecora, who has pleaded not guilty, was released from jail after posting $30,000 bail.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officials said Pecora’s arrest was based on probable cause, not unsubstantiated allegations.
“After a lengthy investigation, evidence was uncovered to support ... Mr. Vargas’ allegations,” said sheriff’s Capt. Ross Bonfiglio.
Neither Vargas nor his lawyer returned calls Wednesday seeking comment about Pecora’s statements.
At the time of his arrest, Pecora had access to Vargas’ bank accounts while working for the boxer and “was involved in the grand theft and forgery of one or more of those accounts,” sheriff’s officials said.
Vargas’ lawyer, Greg Ramirez, said last week that Vargas and wife allege Pecora pocketed about $400,000 with ploys including forging Vargas’ name on checks.
A 2009 lawsuit filed on behalf of Vargas, his wife and their businesses includes claims of fraud, breach of oral contract and professional negligence and names Pecora, among others. Only Pecora has been arrested.
Pecora said he plans to fight both the criminal and civil allegations. He said he didn’t have personal access to Vargas’ accounts and didn’t forge checks or steal money.
Pecora said he and other members of Vargas’ financial team told the boxer he was in financial trouble in 2005, years before Vargas reported the alleged theft. Pecora said the team had monthly meetings with Vargas, and he claimed the boxer had “selective memory.”
“He spent money faster than he could make it — cars, homes, jewelry, lavish weekends with his buddies, paying for flights for everybody to go to Tucson,” Pecora said.
He said he doesn’t know why authorities arrested him, noting he hasn’t seen any documents in the case.
He said Vargas has a history of firing people and has gone through three accountants and three bookkeepers because he believed they had stolen from him. “And nobody steals from him,” Pecora said.
Vargas, however, has won at least one of his money-related lawsuits. Vargas and fellow boxer Robert Garcia were awarded $175,000 after suing former sports agent Robert Caron for fraud in 2002. Caron died this month after a long battle with cancer.
In 2009, Vargas settled a lawsuit with his mother after trying to oust her from her Oxnard home, which he claimed was his.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jun/23/ex-manager-denies-stealing-from-boxer-vargas/?partner=RSS#ixzz1CRCWEq9g
- vcstar.com