Former LADCO boss headed to trial for theft

A trial on theft charges will be scheduled in La Crosse County for Jorge Beltran, the former head of the La Crosse Area Development Corporation. 

Beltran pleads ‘not guilty’ to accusations that he used a company credit card for personal items, and sought $15,000 in moving expenses, for a total loss of about $30,000. 

LADCO fired Beltran last fall, after the spending came to light.  He had been with the organization less than two years.  No trial date has been set. 

Beltran was arrested in January.  He’s accused of using a credit card issued by the development corporation to make personal buys worth thousands of dollars. 

Police say the purchases included violin rental from a music store, and two electric scooters.