California school staffers busted in $300K embezzlement scheme after massive Costco breakfast order blew their cover

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Two staffers at a Central Coast charter school have been arrested after allegedly embezzling nearly $300,000 from school funds.

The International School of Monterey in Seaside were alerted to the illegal activity after Terry Bumper, the school’s former food services director, placed a suspiciously large Costco order for eggs, bacon, and potatoes.

A school administrator flagged the exorbitant shopping spree, which led Seaside Police to uncover that Bumper, 42, had embezzled $58,800 from the school by ordering products he used in his personal catering business, Flava 2 You, which he launched in 2023.

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Terry Bumper, 42, has been accused of embezzling nearly $59,000 from the International School of Monterey in Seaside, California Facebook/The Bridge Restoration Ministry

School administrators grew suspicious after noticing an excessive Costco breakfast food purchase. Facebook/The Bridge Restoration Ministry

Bumper is also accused of renting out the school’s kitchens for personal profit.

His alleged misuse of money led the school to uncover another massive fraud, according to investigators.

Chief Financial Officer Rosa Segura allegedly siphoned more than $238,000 from school funds to pay for personal expenses, including luxury vacations, restaurants, spas, and online shopping, authorities said.

The 45-year-old “made Bumper look like a saint the way she was ripping off the school,” Borges told the Los Angeles Times. Segura was arrested for felony embezzlement on Oct. 22.

Chief Financial Officer Rosa Segura allegedly siphoned more than $238,000 from school funds to pay for personal expenses. The International School of Monterey in Seaside is pictured. Instagram/@ismonterey

Bumper was arrested for felony embezzlement on Sept. 24, and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office formally filed felony embezzlement charges against him on Oct. 20.

“There’s something about this level of theft that really gets under my skin… You are ripping off not just the school, not just the kids; it’s taxpayer dollars — you are ripping everybody off,” Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges told the outlet.

Bumper pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was released after posting $20,000 bail.

Bumper is also accused of renting out the school’s kitchens for personal profit. Facebook/The Bridge Restoration Ministry

He denied routing any funds to his private catering business and told Monterey County NOW that his only responsibility was ordering food for the school.

“I did everything I could for them kids, and I would never steal from them kids,” Bumper told the news outlet in an interview. According to him, his coworker Segura held final approval over all orders.

At the moment, investigators have not been able to determine whether Segura and Bumper worked together or knew about the alleged misuse on each other’s end.