GV man admits ‘mistake’ in embezzlement case

A Green Valley man accused of embezzling nearly $100,000 from a longtime employer said he “made a mistake,” and needed money to open an ice cream shop in Sahuarita.

Morton Herbert Einstein, president of the Kiwanis Club of the Santa Ritas, was arrested May 20 and indicted on two theft by conversion charges, according Pima County Superior Court records. He is accused of stealing from New West Design Interiors in Continental Shopping Plaza, where he had been employed for nearly 17 years.

Owner Silvia Roberts and her attorney told deputies last month that Einstein was left in charge of her business while she was out of the country last year.

“I left Mort to cover the store while I was away like I’ve done in past years,” Roberts told the Green Valley News. “This is the first time there has been a problem.”

Roberts said she audits her books after she returns every year. She provided authorities documentation that she said indicated Einstein took checks written to the business totaling more than $94,000 and put them in a personal account between June 2008 and September 2008.

Roberts said she gave Einstein an opportunity to repay the money and that he made two payments covering some of her losses. She said he “was not happy” with the figure of her third repayment request.

“He tried to make restitution but when he disputed the third payment, I had to file a report with the police,” Roberts said. “This is so sad. We have worked together for a very long time and I tried to help him make it right.”

Einstein said Saturday that he has paid back 70 percent of the money but did not disclose the figure.

“I made a mistake, what more can I say?” he said. “Seventy percent is better than nothing and it’s the best I can do right now. I’m trying my best to work something out.”

Before his arrest, Einstein said he was looking for lines of credit to open Mooshuga Scoops, an ice cream parlor in Sahuarita in a business complex north of Beall’s Outlet store.

Einstein has been active in Kiwanis for years, serving as an officer and helping to collect food for the Green Valley Community Food Bank as well as food and other items for enlisted personnel at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

“His actions are not a matter that affect the Kiwanis Club of the Santa Ritas,” said Jim Jennings, who is scheduled to take over Oct. 1 as club president. “If any action is to be taken, that will be determined by the board.”

The earliest the board could meet is June 29 because of a national Kiwanis conference that starts Monday, he said.

Includes information from The Associated Press.