Former GALA Pride & Diversity Center Executive Director, Dustin Colyerworth, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, 2-years of formal probation, and ordered to pay over $59,000 in restitution for two counts of felony embezzlement. Submitted photo
The former head of a non-profit center for the LGBTQ+ pled guilty to two felony counts for embezzlement and will serve time in County Jail then be placed on probation and ordered to pay restitution.
The County District Attorney’s Office announced that Dustin Colyerworth, 46, pled guilty to two felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement after it was discovered he took some $59,000 from the GALA Pride and Diversity Center.
Colyerworth was the executive director of the Center from July 2022 until he left in September 2024.
GALA stands for “Gay And Lesbian Alliance” and the non-profit organization supports the LGBTQ+ community on the Central Coast.
It was shortly after he left that the GALA Board of Directors discovered the theft and reported it to San Luis Obispo Police.
“Beginning in late November 2022,” the D.A.’s news release said, “and continuing for several months thereafter, Colyerworth took advantage of his position of trust at GALA to embezzle tens of thousands of dollars from the non-profit organization.”
Colyerworth pled guilty in May to two felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, and also admitted three aggravating factors: that the manner in which the crime was carried out indicated planning, sophistication, or professionalism; that the crime involved the taking of great monetary value; and that he took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offense.
Under a plea agreement he negotiated with the D.A.’s Office, Colyerworth agreed to pay $59,302.07 in restitution through the Probation Department prior to sentencing. He paid the money in time and the remainder of his agreement went into effect last week.
“In exchange for his pleas and admissions,” the District Attorney’s Office agreed to recommend that the court place Colyerworth on 2-years of formal felony probation on the condition that he serve 90-days in County Jail and comply with other standard terms and conditions of probation.” Formal probation means he will have to check in regularly with a probation officer, among other restrictions.
The GALA Board of Directors reviewed the plea agreement’s terms and agreed the restitution amount including estimated interest was enough to make them whole again.
Judge Michael Frye sentenced Colyerworth to the probation and jail terms and ordered that he report to jail on Sept. 30 to serve his sentence.
If he violates probation, Colyerworth could be brought back to court and sentenced to the maximum under the laws he broke, 3 years, 8 months in County Jail.
D.A. Dan Dow, said, “When someone abuses a position of trust for personal gain, it undermines confidence in institutions that serve our community. We will continue to aggressively prosecute fraud and protect victims.”
The case was investigated by SLOPD Det. Marcelo Magana and prosecuted by Dep. D.A. Ben Blumenthal of the Major Fraud and Public Integrity Unit. Victim services were provided by Victim Advocate, Tristan Milledge, and witness coordination was by Eloiza Basinger.
According to the GALA Pride & Diversity Center’s mission statement the organization “supports and empowers people of all sexual orientations, and gender identities, and expressions to strengthen and unite our Central Coast communities.”
The GALA Center is located at 1060 Palm St., in SLO.
