Local TNT Fireworks Employee Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Stealing

A former 29-year-old office manager of TNT Fireworks – a wholesale fireworks distributor that has several sales booths in Artesia and other neighboring cities -- was sentenced last week to two years in state prison for stealing more than $146,000 from his employer by claiming the money was to obtain city firework sale booth permits.

Carlos Martinez Rosales of Norwalk pleaded guilty on April 27, 2011, to one felony count of grand theft and five felony counts of forgery with a sentencing enhancement for loss over $65,000. In addition to two years in state prison, Rosales was ordered to pay $146,000 in restitution, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Rosales was hired as an office manager for TNT in February 2007 and was responsible for obtaining permits with cities in Orange and Los Angeles Counties to set up July 4th firework sale booths. 

According to the district attorney’s office, Rosales stole more than $146,000 from TNT between June 2007 and June 2008 by requesting roughly 200 fraudulent checks. He is accused of claiming the checks would be used as payment for firework booths throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties, and instead depositing the funds into his personal accounts. 

Upon a review of the company’s finances in July 2008, TNT’s president discovered Rosales’ wrongdoings. The theft was reported to the Fullerton Police Department, who investigated the case.

TNT is a nationwide wholesale distributor of fireworks with a corporate office in Fullerton. With the Fourth of July just about a week away, TNT currently has more than five fireworks sales booths located in Artesia. Neighboring Cerritos does not permit the use of fireworks within the city.