Former Congressional Aide and Arizona Native on Probation for Petty Theft

Nogales native Caroline Valdez is in quite the pickle. On Friday, this former executive assistant to California Representative Loretta Sanchez was sentenced to three years on probation for stealing nearly $7,000 of office funds. The dumbest part? Looks like she used the bulk of the money to buy pizzas, groceries, and...

By Malia Politzer

September 25, 2009

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Nogales native Caroline Valdez is in quite the pickle.

On Friday, this former executive assistant to California Representative Loretta Sanchez was sentenced to three years on probation for stealing nearly $7,000 of office funds.

The dumbest part? Looks like she used the bulk of the money to buy pizzas, groceries, and airline tickets.

The 28-year old Arizona State University dropout also forged the congresswoman's signature in order to write herself a bonus of $6,000.

According to an AP report, Valdez even shed a few tears while fessing up to her crimes, telling Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr. that her actions were "stupid, selfish and wrong," and that she has since learned the value of honesty.

Valdez got off lucky. She could have faced up to 6-months in prison for the forgery, but prosecutors accepted her request for probation because she'd pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for her crimes.

Kennedy says he thinks she has trouble telling the truth, and could use counseling. We'll agree with that.

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