Court documents show the Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired embezzled more than $86,000 as it looked to receive overpayment from the California Department of Rehabilitation.
Documents show that beginning in January, 2016, the Center for the Blind over-billed the Department of Rehabilitation multiple times, looking for reimbursement for hours that were not worked.
23ABC contacted the Center for the Blind seeking comment. The center referred 23ABC to a Bakersfield law firm.
Barry Goldner, the attorney representing the CBVI says the allegations are not true and the state needs to pay up.
"They have not over billed. The Department of Rehabilitation currently owes the CBVI sums and excess of $110,000," Goldner said.
The first report of overpayment was in the amount of $44,935. The Center for the Blind provided 413 hours of instruction to consumers, but billed the Department of Rehabilitation for 1,230.
Another instance of over-billing shows the Center for the Blind received $3,795 in over-payment for 69 hours of work that did not take place.
Another incident shows 580 hours were billed for over-payment. That resulted in $37,325 of over-payment.
