Former director of SLO LGBTQ+ nonprofit pleads guilty to embezzlement
The former executive director of San Luis Obispo County’s leading LGBTQ+ nonprofit pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the nonprofit on Friday.
As a condition of his plea agreement, former GALA Pride and Diversity Center executive director Dusty Colyer-Worth was ordered to pay $59,302 back to the nonprofit by the time of his sentencing hearing on June 25, according to court records.
Colyer-Worth was charged with four felony counts of grand theft over $950 on Nov. 17, accused of embezzling from the organization between November 2022 and August 2024, according to court filings.
Each charge carried a maximum sentence of 3 years in jail or state prison, but as a condition of his plea deal, Colyer-Worth pleaded guilty to only two of the charges — accepting a felony conviction. The other two charges were dismissed.
As part of his plea deal, he also admitted to three aggravating factors that could be considered during sentencing: that the crime was committed with planning, sophistication or professionalism; that it involved great monetary value; and that he took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the crime.
Court records indicate he will serve 90 days in jail and two years of probation.
Colyer-Worth was released on bail until his sentencing on June 25.
When did GALA discover the embezzlement?
Colyer-Worth served as GALA’s executive director for two years prior to moving into a part-time role with the nonprofit in June 2024.
Between June and September 2024, the organization began to encounter “persistent challenges” in accessing essential systems, processes and banking information, hindering its ability to maintain oversight, according to a letter shared with The Tribune last year.
GALA’s board moved to fully cut ties with Colyer-Worth on Sept. 22, 2024, and uncovered evidence of the alleged embezzlement on Oct. 2, 2024, according to the letter.
In December, GALA board president Julia Thompson told The Tribune that the organization believed Colyer-Worth embezzled more than $46,000 to his personal accounts during his time as executive director.
