Ex-Pechanga Official Pleads Guilty to Theft

A former financial officer for the Pechanga Resort & Casino pleaded guilty Thursday to 26 felony counts stemming from the theft of nearly $500,000.

Paul Del Vacchio, 40, of Murrieta admitted to charges including grand theft, identity theft and filing false tax returns in Riverside County Superior Court. He was arrested in March after Wells Fargo Bank checked his account and alerted the casino that he may have funneled money into it. Prosecutors are seeking $499,740.88 in restitution to the Temecula casino.

Del Vacchio’s sentencing is not yet scheduled.