Jacob Joseph Aaron Rostovsky, the CEO of the Palm Springs-based nonprofit Queer Works, is now facing a staggering 53 felony charges in what prosecutors are calling a substantial fraud involving over $940,000 in public funds. This indictment comes after the Riverside County criminal grand jury's recent findings, as reported by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office on their website.
The swath of charges against Rostovsky encompasses fraudulent claims, grand theft, and insurance fraud, among others. Rostovsky, who spearheaded Queer Works—an organization purported to assist the transgender and nonbinary community—turned himself in earlier this month and met the hefty $944,000 bail, according to the District Attorney's statement.
District Attorney Mike Hestrin has voiced his concern over the situation, expressing the need for tighter scrutiny over the administration of such contracts. "It is simply unacceptable that public funds are handed out with the lack of due diligence or oversight that is alleged in this case," Hestrin stated in the report by the District Attorney's Office.
The grand jury indictment charges that Rostovsky not only misappropriated county funds intended for the homeless and victims of domestic violence, but also funds set aside for a universal basic income pilot program. Reviews by Riverside County Housing & Workforce Solutions (HWS) uncovered glaring discrepancies, including Rostovsky's personal use of funds for purchases at Disney, Burberry, and stays at the Beverly Garland Hotel.
The unraveling of Rostovsky's alleged long-term fraudulent conduct further alleges that he submitted 89 separate instances of forged documents to get his hands on over $840,000. Moreover, Rostovsky is accused of impersonating a Queer Works client to fraudulently collect $90,000 from an insurance claim, as per the indictment unsealed during his arraignment.
