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Pismo Beach Chamber clams up over missing funds

September 28, 2010

By KAREN VELIE

The former chief executive officer for the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce is under investigation for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from the chamber.

Rebecca McMurry left the chamber in May, shortly after the annual Taste of Pismo. There are allegations that cash donations failed to show up in the deposit receipt at a time when the chamber treasurer position had gone unfilled for almost a year.

McMurry did not return requests for comment.

“We don’t know how much money is missing from the event (Taste of Pismo). Our suspicion is a few dollars, ” said chamber interim treasurer Tony Wells.

The allegations have created a divide between those who would like the issue to go away and those who want law enforcement officials to investigate. Some Pismo Beach residents and officials are also in disagreement over the amount of money missing and how the alleged embezzlement should be dealt with.

Some city residents and business owners suspect the amount of funds missing is in the $100,000 range and accuse the chamber of attempting to keep the issue quiet to protect its reputation.

Wells contends the allegations had nothing to do with McMurry’s resignation. He said he investigated the allegations of missing funds and could only verify $13,000 in credit card purchases for personal items.

“If she took just credit cards, our events made up for that,” Wells said. “We don’t want to paint her as a bad person.”

Wells also said that the Pismo Beach Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s office were investigating the allegations.

However, though someone from the chamber did inform police that there were missing funds, the police have not yet began an investigation or turned their findings over to the district attorney’s office.

“We are trying to get someone from the chamber to get the information over to us,” said Jake Miller, Pismo Beach Police Commander. “We just need them to come forward at this point and provide us with some documentation.”

The chamber is funded through member dues, events and the city’s general fund. Wells noted that the credit cards McMurry used to buy personal items were affiliated with event accounts and not supported by city monies.

However, the city of Pismo Beach provides the chamber a total of $104,754 a year, which breaks down as $67,254 for the Visitor Information Center, 13,500 for the Visitor Information Kiosk, $10,000 for the Fourth of July event, $10,000 for the Clam Festival and $5,000 for band review, according to Susan West-Jones, account manager for the city of Pismo Beach.

“Suellen Iness (chamber president and interim CEO) and I are saying to leave this alone,” Wells said. “I would appreciate it if you would keep your mouth shut.”


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“Suellen Iness (chamber president and interim CEO) and I are saying to leave this alone,” Wells said. “I would appreciate it if you would keep your mouth shut.”


Stupid is as Stupid says!


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What on earth is going on down in the South County? There is corruptions everywhere you turn. I personally don’t care it was the Chamber’s money or the City’s money, either way it is a theft of money the citizens of our community — ultimately — paid, and money that was MEANT for bettering our community. That anyone would want to cover this up is shameful.

Whether she “only” stole $13k worth of money by charging personal items to the Chamber’s credit card, or also stole up to $100k in cash donations is a crime.

C’mon law eenforcement, DO SOMETHING.


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California does it all the time with our taxes and fees. Green sticker money, MEANT to be used solely for OHV use, is diverted to pay more important expenses as deemed by the State. Have you driven on the CA roads lately? Where is all the money set aside for infrastructure? Why would you expect different behavior from the local cities government? Misappropriation of funds is common practice in all governments.


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The individual at the Chamber was not a government employee.


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I agree. The 13k ALONE is considered grand larceny is it not?


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I would think that should be considered grand larceny. Put the blame on the person who took the money and don’t get mire down in trying to involve people who probably didn’t know it was happening until after the fact. McMurry should have to face the charges on her own.


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It seems to me that the citizens have a right to demand that every penny of pubic funds are accounted for. I don’t see how the Chamber can cover this up and claim that the missing funds were not public funds but only Chamber Funds. It’s time for an audit of all revenue and expenses where the public funds are concerned. This appears to be more about Sullen covering up for her good friend McMurry and what does that say about Sullen?


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Why is Sullen trying to keep this under wraps? Isn’t she the owner of Abby Home Loans and isn’t Ian Parkinson her good friend that does her commercials for her? I should think she would call for an audit.

Maybe she has friends she wants to protect?


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Seems like whenever you hear of something sleazy going on in the county, Parkinsons name is tied to it. Sleazy commericals, sleazy phony Democratic slate mailers, sleazy lies about property tax liens, sleazy goings on at SLO PD with female officers, sleazy boat deals with the Paso Chief about to go into bankrupcy and then, SURPRISE, her hubby has a job at SLO PD.

What an embarrassment to SLO PD, SLO POA and actually to all Law Enforcement in SLO County. Thought those of rank in our PD would have more of an ethical and moral backbone. Guess that’s what happens when the rules are bent for you to promote. Teaches you it’s OK to be sleazy.

Makes you wonder what we don’t know about him. Now we find he is tied to Sue Ellen who is apparently covering up embezzelment. Did she get advice from him?


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Interesting. This chamber has been in decline for years. Wasn’t Rebecca asked to leave one of the Rotary Clubs. Why has this taken so long to come to the surface,oh..that’s right,Suellen and Rebecca were close friends weren’t they.


Did Suellen help with the cover up. Is that why the cops can’t seem to get the chamber to come forth with information. So Suellen and Tony think it is OK for her to have taken $13,000. Was or is Suellen involved?


You would think the President of the board and Interim CEO would want this investigated….unless there is more to hide. This was not her money, this was the communities monoey. Maybe she should step down since she was so close to the person accused of taking how much? Possibly six figures!


So glad you didn’t keep you mouth shut Karen, how else would we have found out about this, you do a real service to the public, keeping us informed of all the coverups and dirty deals that go on.


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Who wants to become a “Member”?


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I must admit the headlne tickled my funnybone …… but the facts are troubeling.


Wells comments sounds like he is trying to distance the city because he knows damn well that the tax payers don’t like their money being spirited away by crooks who suckle on the public teet.


Sounds like a forensic audit is in order to determine exactly how much money is missing and from what pot it was pilfered from.


For Wells to suggest it was only 13,000.00 shows contempt for our members of the Chamber as well as the public.


I’m sure Suellen Ines wants nothing more than this to be swept under the carpet …. and to think she bankrolled her good friend Ian Parkinson. What do they say about crooks of a feather flocking together?


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Maybe we should call for an audit of Ian’s campaign funds… You think?


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chamber clamming up?


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missing clams?


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