Costco order exposes $300K embezzlement scheme at California charter school, police say

Two employees of a publicly funded California charter school have been arrested on suspicion of embezzling nearly $300,000 after an unusually expensive food order raised red flags about the school's spending.

The Seaside Police Department announced the arrests of two staffers at the International School of Monterey, a publicly funded kindergarten-through-eighth-grade charter school.

Terry Bumper, 42, the food services director, is accused of misusing at least $58,800 in school funds to support his private catering business and to profit personally from renting out the school's kitchen.

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office charged Bumper with one count of embezzlement on Oct. 20. He pleaded not guilty and was released after posting $20,000 bail, according to court records.

Two days later, authorities arrested Rosa Segura, 45, the school's chief financial officer. She is separately accused of spending more than $238,000 in school money on personal expenses, including luxury vacation stays, restaurants, spas and online shopping.

The arrests came after a school administrator questioned an invoice submitted by the school's food services director for eggs, bacon and potatoes purchased at Costco, The Los Angeles Times reports.

While investigating Bumper’s spending, detectives found evidence that Segura allegedly had been misusing school funds independently, the newspaper noted. 

Segura’s case is awaiting review by the district attorney’s office. Police said she was released from custody after posting bail.

Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges said detectives haven't uncovered any evidence that the two employees worked together. However, Segura was responsible for approving invoices submitted by Bumper because she oversaw the school's finances.

“There’s something about this level of theft that really gets under my skin,” Borges told The Los Angeles Times. “You are ripping off not just the school, not just the kids; It’s taxpayer dollars — you are ripping everybody off.”

The International School of Monterey did not immediately respond to The Christian Post’s request for comment about the case. This article will be updated if a response is received.

Investigators began examining Bumper's spending after receiving a tip in August about the unusually large Costco invoice.

Detectives identified a pattern of food purchases that appeared inconsistent with the school's meal offerings but matched dishes sold through Bumper's private catering business, Flava 2 You, according to Borges.

Some of the purchases were made while school was not in session, the police chief said. Investigators also allege that Bumper accepted payments through Venmo from individuals who rented the school's kitchen for special events or catering operations.

Police believe the alleged misconduct began around 2022, when Bumper joined the school as its food services director.

Borges said Bumper was initially well received by the school community after introducing new menu items for students. A 2025 profile published by Edible Monterey Bay described his efforts to replace an unpopular heat-and-serve lunch program.

According to the profile, Bumper struggled with painkiller addiction throughout his 20s and 30s after a torn knee ligament derailed his football career. He also had an unhealthy dependence on alcohol.

“He worked in restaurants in Los Angeles and Napa; he served time for writing bad checks. He got married, became a dad — then relapsed and went back to prison, again for fraud,” the profile states.

The Edible Monterey Bay profile says Bumper’s wife gave him an ultimatum: to keep his family, he needed to get clean and “stay out of trouble.” In 2021, Bumper completed a 12-month recovery and culinary program, worked at a few local restaurants, and then answered a Craigslist job posting for the school's food services director position.