Corey Bruins, the former president of the Ocean Beach Town Council, currently faces 9 felonies.
These include one count of fraudulent appropriation by agent, with an aggravated white collar crime enhancement, one count of grand theft, six counts of use personal identifying information of another, and one count of money laundering also with an aggravated white collar crime enhancement.
Bruins was arraigned on March 28 and pleaded not guilty. He was ordered by the court to stay away from Shelly Parks, Jenny Brengelman, and Stephanie Kane — either current or former members of the OBTC (now OB Community Foundation). A readiness hearing is set for May 7 at 8:15 a.m. in Department 1102 in downtown San Diego. Because he’s charged with felonies, there is a preliminary hearing currently set for May 21 at 8:30 a.m., assigned out of Department 102 downtown.
The investigating agency is the San Diego Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit. His retained defense attorney is Earll Pott.
As OBceans may recall, Bruins was forced to resign from the OBTC in disgrace in January 2024, which threw the Town Council into months of turmoil and crisis, so much so that the organization had to change its name.
Without listing each felony count in detail, here’s several examples verbatim:
COUNT 1 – FRAUDULENT APPROPRIATION BY CLERK, AGENT, OR EMPLOYEE
On or about and between March 1, 2018 and January 31, 2024, COREY BRUINS, being then a clerk, agent and servant, did fraudulently appropriate to his own use, and did secrete with a fraudulent intent to appropriate to his own use, property and money in excess of nine hundred fifty dollars ($950.00) of another which had come into his control and care by virtue of his employment as such clerk, agent, and servant in violation of PENAL CODE SECTION 508.
AGGRAVATED WHITE COLLAR CRIME ENHANCEMENT: And it is further alleged that said defendant, COREY BRUINS, committed two or more related felonies, a material element of which is fraud and embezzlement, which involved a pattern of related felony conduct which involved the taking and resulted in the loss by another person and entity of more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) but not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), within the meaning of PENAL CODE SECTION 186.11(a)(1).
COUNT 2 – GRAND THEFT BY EMPLOYEE
On or about and between March 1, 2018 and January 31, 2024, COREY BRUINS, having been the agent and employee of another, did unlawfully take and steal personal property of such principal and employer, of a value of nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) or more in a 12 consecutive month period, in violation of PENAL CODE SECTION 487(b)(3).
COUNT 3 – USE PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF ANOTHER
On or about and between March 1, 2018 and January 31, 2024, COREY BRUINS, did willfully obtain personal identifying information of another person, Ocean Beach Community Foundation (Paypal), and use that information for an unlawful purpose without that person’s consent, in violation of PENAL CODE SECTION 530.5(a).
COUNT 9 – MONEY LAUNDERING
On or about and between March 1, 2018 and January 31, 2024, COREY BRUINS did unlawfully conduct and attempt to conduct a transaction involving a monetary instrument of a value exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) through one or more financial institutions, with the specific intent to promote, manage, establish, carry on and facilitate the promotion, management, establishment and carrying on of criminal activity and knowing that the monetary instrument represents the proceeds of and is derived directly or indirectly from the proceeds of criminal activity, in violation of PENAL CODE SECTION 186.10(a).
AGGRAVATED WHITE COLLAR CRIME ENHANCEMENT: And it is further alleged that said defendant, COREY BRUINS, committed two or more related felonies, a material element of which is fraud and embezzlement, which involved a pattern of related felony conduct which involved the taking and resulted in the loss by another person and entity of more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) but not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), within the meaning of PENAL CODE SECTION 186.11(a)(1).
OB Rag Editordude: Writer Paul Krueger contributed to this article.
On Tuesday, April 22 The Rag contact gave us an update:
“Court records in the Corey Bruins case reveal that Bruins allegedly embezzled $134,471.74 from the Ocean Beach Town Council and attempted to steal an additional $123.563.10 from the Town Council’s bank accounts
A detailed declaration filed by the detective in the case alleges that Bruins raided the Town Council’s PayPal and Venmo accounts and credit cards, and used stolen identities to open other accounts and lines of credit linked to the Town Council.
Court records also list the OB Community Foundation as an alleged victim of Bruins’ thefts and identify fraud.
According to the Declaration in Support of Arrest Warrant, Bruins’ scam began on March 1, 2018, and continued through January 31, 2024.
In December 2023, the Town Council’s newly appointed treasurer, Jenny Brengelman, “demanded access to (Town Council) records,” but Bruins allegedly “stalled” and refused to let Brengelman review the expenditures.
But the investigation progressed, and prosecutors filed nine felony charges against him last month.
Bruins did not have to post bail after his first court appearance and will remain free from custody while awaiting his trial. But the judge ordered Bruins “not to possess any personal identifying information on Jenny Brengelma, Shelly Parks, or Stephanie Kane.”
Bruins’ attorney, Earll Pott, declined to comment on the charges against Bruins, but more information from the defense could be revealed at Bruins’ readiness hearing on May 7 or his preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for May 21. “
Wow. This is what blows my mind: “resulted in the loss by another person and entity of more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) but not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).” I had no idea so much money was involved. How can that even be possible?
The difference in account balances before and after his ouster couldn’t have been more than 20K at most, based on my recollection attending meetings. But if he was skimming for years that would’ve been less noticeable. The OBTC also has unpaid debts. 100K+ is bad news, that’s the community’s hard earned money.
The Rag contact gave an update:
“Court records in the Corey Bruins case reveal that Bruins allegedly embezzled $134,471.74 from the Ocean Beach Town Council and attempted to steal an additional $123.563.10 from the Town Council’s bank accounts
A detailed declaration filed by the detective in the case alleges that Bruins raided the Town Council’s PayPal and Venmo accounts and credit cards, and used stolen identities to open other accounts and lines of credit linked to the Town Council.
Court records also list the OB Community Foundation as an alleged victim of Bruins’ thefts and identify fraud.
According to the Declaration in Support of Arrest Warrant, Bruins’ scam began on March 1, 2018, and continued through January 31, 2024.
In December 2023, the Town Council’s newly appointed treasurer, Jenny Brengelman, “demanded access to (Town Council) records,” but Bruins allegedly “stalled” and refused to let Brengelman review the expenditures.
But the investigation progressed, and prosecutors filed nine felony charges against him last month.
Bruins did not have to post bail after his first court appearance and will remain free from custody while awaiting his trial. But the judge ordered Bruins “not to possess any personal identifying information on Jenny Brengelma, Shelly Parks, or Stephanie Kane.”
Bruins’ attorney, Earll Pott, declined to comment on the charges against Bruins, but more information from the defense could be revealed at Bruins’ readiness hearing on May 7 or his preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for May 21. “
Frank, please amend your article to add this – these are the details people want to know. And thanks for the great reporting!
Okay, the above post has been supplemented with details from the Rag’s contact.
How was it possible that no one on the Town Council knew or suspected anything about him stealing that much money? The whole bunch is guilty of burying their heads in the sand. Anyone who served during this should hit the road for good.
It’s a volunteer board for a non-profit community organization. The type of people willing to work for free to better their community aren’t going into it thinking someone is going to take advantage of their charity. They’re the people actually showing up rather than complaining on the internet. They have their own lives, jobs, etc. and are giving of their time in the spaces in between. This dude sucks and is a charlatan and a fraud. Don’t blame the people who’ve been actively trying to make a better OB, blame the guy who stole the money and lied about it.
Yikes. I thought it was going to be in the $60-70k range based on the information that was made available. No wonder so many other board members go out with a quickness, given that they could have been/still might be liable to repay that. I hope the aftermath falls on him alone.
Sad situation for the community, but at least he didn’t have an affair, I guess.
Pffft.
Maybe he’ll be able to repay the money showing everyone in jail how to coif their hair! What a bozo!
Who is the auditor on the OBTC financial statements for the past 20 years and have those audits been reviewed? Batten used to handle in the past. Did the auditor change? When/who?
Does this mean he can’t be president?
In today’s world, it means he can.
Well, since we currently have a CONVICTED FELON as President of the United States, I don’t see why not.
Based on Counts 1 and 2, it seems the false Christian Corey also stole from his former employer, although not on as grand a scale as he did to the OBTC. Didn’t he work at the Inn at Sunset Cliffs? The May 21 prelim hearing is going to involve witness testimony, so if anyone wants to get the facts, this would be one to attend. (btw, the 923 bus drops OBceans off a block from the courthouse). There will be a court transcript available soon thereafter.
He was rollin for awhile, look at his picture smilin all the way to the bank, bet he’s not hi-steppin now, I don’t think it’s his fault, it all happened because childhood trauma came back to haunt him, he might get 100 hours of community service, he will serve on a non-profit board to get his hours, ok, hold on, on no COREY IS BACK!!!!!!!
The amount of money he will pay for a private criminal defense attorney, will be about the same amount of money he is accused of “borrowing”, on another note, how was this allowed to happen? for such a long period of time, there will be a lot of twists and turns in this case, please try to get statements from board members who served with him on what checks and balances they had in place, of course they will not comment, I am a termite inspector and if I see visible termite damage, there is usually 10x of that amount I can’t see “it’s hidden”, just a question? Was there an insurance policy that will possibly cover the loss.
Sincerely,
Mark Ainsworth