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Absent petitioner, CBA hearing on Irene Velasquez’s reinstatement submitted for decision
Summary
A Nov. 21 petition hearing for reinstatement of CPA Irene Velasquez was held in her absence. Prosecutors introduced a 159‑page packet, outlined past convictions and recent arrest reports and urged denial; the ALJ closed the record and submitted the matter to the board for deliberation in closed session.
The California Board of Accountancy held a petition hearing on Nov. 21, 2024, in the matter of Irene Velasquez’s petition for reduction of penalty and reinstatement of a surrendered CPA certificate. The petitioner did not appear; an administrative law judge took the matter on the papers and admitted a 159‑page exhibit packet into evidence.
Deputy Attorney General Ted Dercar, appearing for the people of the State of California, summarized Ms. Velasquez’s disciplinary and criminal history and offered the entire petition packet (IV‑PET‑001 through IV‑PET‑159) into evidence, which the ALJ admitted "for all purposes." Dercar said the CBA had previously accepted Velasquez’s 2020 surrender after an accusation and that she had agreed to pay $12,428 in investigative and enforcement costs that remain unpaid. He added that the packet shows six criminal convictions between 2014 and 2018 and that the petitioner admitted the allegations in the stipulated surrender.
Dercar also described recent police reports introduced by staff, including an Oceanside Police Department arrest on Oct. 25, 2024 (alleged driving under the influence of methamphetamine) and an Escondido Police Department report on Nov. 1, 2024 (disorderly conduct under the influence with alleged possession of methamphetamine). He noted further arrest reports for Nov. 12 and Nov. 17 were reported to staff but that documentation had not yet been obtained.
Board members asked staff and the prosecutor whether those recent arrests had produced convictions; they were reminded that arrests are not convictions and that a petitioner is presumed innocent of pending criminal charges. Staff told the board CBA receives automated Department of Justice notifications when arrests are reported but said Ms. Velasquez had not otherwise contacted board staff despite outreach attempts. Board members asked about medical or court findings to substantiate the petitioner’s claim of treatment for substance use disorder and other diagnoses; the prosecutor pointed to treatment letters and records in the packet but said there were no indicated criminal court findings of a mental health diagnosis for the prior convictions.
In closing, Dercar told the board, “Ms. Velasquez appears not to be ready to reenter the profession,” citing recent arrests and nonappearance at a hearing she had acknowledged she would attend, and recommended the board deny the petition in the interest of public protection and consider a two‑ to three‑year denial as allowed under Business and Professions Code section 5,115. The administrative law judge closed the record and submitted the matter to the board; the transcript records that the board took the petition into closed session for deliberation. No final board vote or public decision on the petition appears in the Nov. 21 transcript.
What happens next: The ALJ’s record was submitted for decision and the board moved the matter to closed session to deliberate; the transcript does not show a final board decision or vote on the petition. Any formal board action or written decision would be recorded separately in the board’s minutes or subsequent agenda materials.
Authorities and references: The proceeding referenced Business and Professions Code section 5,115 and official police reports introduced under Evidence Code section 1280 (official‑records exception), as noted on the record.
