Lawsuit: St. John Bosco football coach Jason Negro | College News

A lawsuit filed by three former workers of Bellflower St. John Bosco High alleges that extremely adorned football coach Jason Negro embezzled money from the Catholic faculty for years and had assistant coaches pay the schooling for prized gamers in money, saying the funds had been from “anonymous donors.”

The submitting in Los Angeles County Superior Court additionally alleges that Negro performed all financial transactions related along with his powerhouse program in money that he retains in a protected in his workplace, with no accounting or accountability by the college.

California Interscholastic Federation bylaws state that “anybody tied to the school cannot give out money based on athletic ability,” and a spokesman for the Southern Section mentioned that offering money to gamers for tuition is a “potential violation.”

Plaintiffs Brian Wickstrom, Melanie Marcaurel and Derek Barraza allege that they had been improperly fired final 12 months and search restitution, reinstatement and unspecified punitive and common damages for emotional misery. Wickstrom was the St. John Bosco president and chief government from July 2020 till July 2024, Macaurel was the chief financial officer from February 2023 till July 2024, and Barraza was vice president of technology from August 2021 till September 2024.

“The Salesian Order’s termination of Wickstrom and Marcaurel was motivated by the desire to protect the football program and its head coach Jason Negro from scrutiny or oversight of illegal conduct,” the lawsuit alleges.

The submitting additionally alleges that officers within the Salesian Society, a Roman Catholic non secular order based within the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco to look after poor youngsters during the commercial revolution, retaliated towards the plaintiffs for reporting the violations, citing what is called the California Whistleblower Protection Act.

Marcaurel, particularly, confronted Negro concerning the observe of amassing money and making funds, demanding that the football program adhere to established accounting practices, however was met with “fierce resistance” from the coach, based on the lawsuit.

One of the assistants who allegedly delivered money to the business workplace for overdue tuition for gamers was Jake Negro, Jason’s brother who’s the particular groups coach and a arithmetic instructor at St. John Bosco.

Jason Negro, a 1991 St. John Bosco graduate, turned coach in 2010 and nearly instantly elevated this system to a stage on par with longtime reigning Southland energy Mater Dei. By 2013, St. John Bosco went 16-0, successful its first Southern Section championship and state title and incomes a No. 1 national rating by Max Preps and USA Today.

St. John Bosco again topped the national rankings in 2022, successful its fourth state title beneath Negro, who took home national coach of the 12 months honors. He remains to be the coach and a instructor on the faculty.

“St. John Bosco High School is aware of claims made against the Salesian Society and myself by former employees of St. John Bosco,” Negro mentioned in a assertion. “An independent investigation has already been conducted and all the facts will come to light in court. The claim has been in the hands of our legal team and our school will defer all questions to them.”

Among the allegations detailed within the lawsuit are that solely money was accepted as fee for youth camps run by St. John Bosco, that gear given to Negro by Nike was bought for money and that the proceeds from parking, sport applications and raffles at home video games had been paid in money to Negro.

Cash from Negro’s protected additionally paid for the teaching workers to take periodic “retreats” to the Palm Springs space, the lawsuit alleges. “There, the football staff engaged in profligate spending for hotels, meals, and large amounts of alcohol. Assistant coaches raved that they were able to go drinking on ‘Bosco’s dime.’ Negro, who set up these retreats, was reluctant to provide receipts or any other accounting to Marcaurel.”

Marcaurel and Wickstrom tried final 12 months to finish the cash-only system and run football income and bills by the college business workplace, with Marcaurel issuing a “corrective action proposal” that included hiring a licensed public accountant. The Salesian Order responded by sending consultants to the college as an alternative of hiring a CPA, based on the lawsuit. The consultants, Jay Conner and Cathy Vivian, “promptly demonstrated that they were not there for the Salesians’ stated intent, but instead used the audit as a ruse to come and rid the business office of its current staff and squelch the audit that would provide any accountability for the football program,” the lawsuit alleges.

Cash funds to Negro and assistant coaches weren’t reported as income to the Internal Revenue Service or Franchise Tax Board, the lawsuit states, alleging that “Negro, in pocketing and using for his personal use much of the cash obtained for the football program, engaged in embezzlement and fraud.”

Wickstrom was fired by Salesians official Fr. Mel Trinidad, who based on the lawsuit “violated California corporations law by inserting himself as principal and CEO of St. John Bosco High School.” Every week later, Trinidad fired Marcaurel, the go well with states.

Barraza, a 1999 St. John Bosco graduate who did a selection of duties for the business workplace and athletic division, was fired in September for “his perceived loyalty to Wickstrom and Marcaurel,” based on the lawsuit.

St. John Bosco issued a assertion shortly after Wickstrom and Marcaurel mentioned they had been fired, pledging assist for Trinidad and for an elevated management position by the Salesians.

“Over the last several months, the Salesian Society has engaged in a period of discernment regarding how to best position SJB for future success,” the assertion learn. “It became clear to Fr. Mel Trinidad, the Salesian Society’s current Provincial, and SJB’s other corporate members that they should play a larger role in guiding the school’s leadership and shaping its future.

“Consequently, they have directed a few leadership changes in the school’s administration. They have also recently implemented a number of other changes, and they anticipate that additional changes may be made in the future.

“The goal of these efforts is to better align the school’s governance and operations with the Salesian vision. The Salesians pray that these changes will enable SJB’s faculty and staff to better serve the students of SJB and their families in the spirit of St. John Bosco.”

Reached for remark on the time, Negro pledged his unqualified assist for the Salesians, saying, “We’re in an awesome spot.”

Times workers author Eric Sondheimer contributed to this report.