LACROSSE, Wis. – The former director of the La Crosse Area Development Corporation, Jorge Beltran has been released on $5,000 bond after an investigation found $30,000 had been stolen. Court documents alleged $15,000 in excess relocation expenses from his previous job in Texas, $14,000 in personal spending on company credit cards, and $1,700 in in undocumented spending at convenience stores. The credit card purchases in the allegation: Lawn fertilizer, grass seed, fishing lures, food, toiletries and two electric scooters. A police report said a member of the corporation board discovered record-keeping anomalies in July. Beltran was fired in September. When police were called in, they were asked not to make anything about the situation public. News media learned only last week was going on. Pressed by reporters, Board President Patti Balacek confirmed the termination but not much more. “LADCO is not commenting further on this issue,” Balacek said.
Corporate profile
The La Crosse Area Development Corporation is a private nonprofit organization that’s an initial contact for businesses considering a move to LaCrosse. The corporation also seeks to retain businesses and to be an incubator for small businesses. Supported include the county and city of LaCrosse and adjacent Minnesota and 110 private-sector investors.
Months of drama
As pieced together from numerous surces:
January 2019. Beltrano hired. Had been assistant director of city economic development in San Antonio, Texas. Held a Harvard degree. Succeeded Jim Hill, who was retiring after 35 years leading the corporation.
July 7, 2020: An accountant became suspicious at reimbursed expenses to Beltran.
August 26. Beltran was confronted in a four-hour meeting. Beltran admitted to taking money and agreed to pay it back if he could keep his job. There was was an extensive negotiation over the how much money was involved.
Next few weeks: Beltran missed deadlines to repay the money.
September 4: Beltran was fired. Police were alerted to situation.
January 21, 2021: Police contacted Beltran, who said that a criminal complaint would be inappropriate because he was filing a federal discrimination complaint.
January 26: Beltran was arrested on felony theft charge. Released on $5,000 bond.
March 29: Beltran scheduled for initial court appearance.
Beltran. At one point he blamed it all on crossed-up credit cards.
Balaek. President of the corporation. Largely mum. Her day job: Director of regional workforce Development at Western Technical College.