RIVERSIDE – A former assistant superintendent of the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD) pled guilty today, July 30, 2021, to charges that he embezzled public funds for his own personal gain.

Ted Eugene Rozzi, DOB: 10-7-59, admitted that from 2011 to 2017 he redirected more than $1 million in funds intended for school construction and facilities projects. Rozzi used his position as assistant superintendent, his expertise in the field, and his relationship with a local contractor to steer funds away from public works and into his own personal accounts.

Rozzi will serve two years in state prison and will pay $1 million in restitution to CNUSD prior to his sentencing in January 2022. A portion of the $1 million payment will come from the proceeds of court-ordered liquidation of Rozzi’s real estate holdings.

As part of his guilty plea, Rozzi exonerated co-defendant Edward Curtis Mierau, saying that Mierau did not know about the scheme and that Rozzi used his strong business relationship to take advantage of Mierau and his company, Neff Construction.

Rozzi and Mierau were originally charged together, but post-filing investigation and Rozzi’s statement exonerating Miearu led prosecutors to dismiss all charges against Mierau.

The case, RIF1904591, was prosecuted by Deputy DA Matthew Murray of the DA’s Public Protection Unit.