Ex-CapRadio GM accused of embezzlement appears in Sacramento court. What’s next?
When Capital Public Radio’s employees discovered the extent of the station’s debt, its then-general manager was on medical leave. The leader of the nation’s sixth largest NPR affiliate didn’t answer questions about steering a $1 million contract to the nonprofit’s then-treasurer. And the executive didn’t answer questions about why his credit card was used to buy lavish overseas retreats.
Troubling accusations have swirled around Fidias “Jun” Reina since 2023. The scrutiny heightened as the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office filed embezzlement, forgery and grand theft charges against Reina last week, accusing him of misappropriating about $1.3 million. From 2016 until 2022, he’s accused of taking donor money to buy luxury travel, fine dining and extensive home renovations.
Some answers might come during the court proceedings. Reina, 60, appeared Monday for his initial court appearance. Reina, late for a 3 p.m. court appearance, walked in with his wife and three of his five children. He wore a dark navy suit, a white and blue pinstripe collared shirt and black dress shoes. The hearing lasted less than five minutes.
Reina took measured steps to a microphone when Sacramento Superior Court Judge John P. Winn called forth his case. He remained stoic as he faced a phalanx of reporters and photographers.
“Correct,” Reina simply said when Winn asked if he was indeed Reina. The succinct answer was clear in the packed courtroom also filled with prominent CapRadio personalities such as Jennifer Reason, the station’s midday classical host, and former news anchor Mike Hagerty.
Reina is accused of creating a fake proposal related to local tower construction company Magnum Towers and taking, destroying or damaging more than $1 million worth of property, according the complaint filed in Sacramento Superior Court.
His attorney, former San Joaquin County Public Defender Mary Ann Bird, was granted by a judge a postponement of his arraignment until April 1. She declined to comment.
Reina’s appearance in court marks a “full circle” moment for CapRadio, a representative for the station has said. The NPR-affiliate licensed to Sacramento State almost stopped operating after accumulating mountains of debt in 2023 linked to plans by Reina and his predecessor to move off of its Folsom Boulevard space to new offices in downtown Sacramento.
A California State University audit found widespread mismanagement at the station as questions arose about Reina’s leadership capabilities. The former executive joined CapRadio in 2007, assumed dual positions of CFO and COO in 2013 and was promoted to general manager in 2020.
Reina’s alleged behavior became more apparent after a Sacramento State-commissioned forensic examination found he was linked to about $460,000 of expenses without receipts or expense reports. The Sacramento Bee, through its lawyers, obtained a list of expenses such as trips to Dubai, Fiji and St. Martin all apparently funded through donors’ paychecks.
The investigation into Reina began in January 2024, involving interviews about three dozen people and poring over thousands of credit card statements and other expense reports, said Sacramento County sheriff’s detective Monica Bustamante in an interview last week. Her investigation, which prosecutors ultimately used to charge Reina, delved into his dealings while in top positions at the radio station from 2016 until 2022.
Reina filed expense reports for transactions that appeared to align with the nonprofit’s business purpose, but didn’t file such reports for his international travel, Bustamante said. He linked the company’s credit card to his Apple Pay, she added.
Bustamante said she never spoke to Reina during her investigation. He turned himself into authorities last week and posted his $200,000 bail.
On Monday, some of Reina’s family kept their sunglasses on in the dim courtroom. They stood and exited the room as soon as Reina’s hearing was finished, ignoring reporters trailing after them.
Reina left the Sacramento County Main Jail surrounded by his family. He hugged his attorney, and she promised to call him.
Then he slid into the backseat of a black Lexus NX 300 and drove away.
This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 3:36 PM.
