Results tagged “corruption” from Crime Scene
The past caught up with Gracie Gallegos, the former mayor of Pico Rivera. On her rap sheet, a felony conviction for Insurance fraud. Here's the story:
Former Mayor Gracie Gallegos pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud while serving on the City Council, but other city officials said Monday they didn't know about it.
Gallegos entered her plea in August 2007 and was sentenced to five years' probation and 120 hours of community service, according to court documents. She was elected to the Pico Rivera City Council in March of 2007.
Gallegos resigned from the council less than three weeks ago. She was serving as mayor at the time.
She said she left the council to take care of other priorities, including an ill father with late-stage cancer, the family business and supporting her daughter who studies abroad.
Here's the Temple City grand jury transcripts Part 1 (5.1 MB) and Part 2 (5.1 MB).
They are lengthy and detailed, but a great insight into just how sleazy local politics can become when a $75 million development is at stake.
Not only do witness tell of bribery, greed, money laundering and back rooms deals, there's also talk of voodoo rituals performed by former mayor Judy Wong.
Read 'em and enjoy!
If politics disgusts you, read no further. If you are interested in how a corrupt government really works, here's an instructive timeline put together by Alfred Lee and based on a grand jury probe of shenanigans in Temple City.
We've put together a special section detailing what those reports entail, it's here.
At right -- former Mayor --still councilwoman Judy Wong..
As for the timeline... which includes allegations of bribery, perjury, money laundering and drug dealing, it's on the jump ...
Continue reading The Temple City case -- bribery, perjury, money laundering and drug dealing .
Ron Beilke, Pico Rivera Councilman and local Weinerschnitzel proprietor might have some 'splaining to do to the DA and a possible grand jury looking into allegations he engaged in some shady conduct while on the council over the past few years.Beilke is accused of voting for improvements on Rosemead Boulevard that helped traffic get to his restaurant. He is also accused of vague election code violations from about two years ago. Whatever the case, the accusations probably won't help his reelection bid this November.
A fellow councilmember, David Armenta, apparently was pleased by the searches Thursday.
"I know that Ron Beilke has had some corruption and that's what they're looking at," Armenta said.
The mayor, a former mayor and a campaign fixer/suspected bagman who hoped to be on the council face some serious felony bribery/perjury charges after finally appearing in court Wednesday.
If you believe what the DA alleges, small-time greed drove these political hacks to basically extort a developer who may have been in over his head in the first place.
The truth of the matter is Temple City is probably not only local government corrupted by the easy cash that flows from developer's pockets. It's just that most developers aren't carrying around a pocket wire to record the transaction and burn the council. Here's an excerpt from our story on Boss Wilson and her crew:
LOS ANGELES - Temple City's mayor, its former mayor and a former City Council candidate were indicted Wednesday on felony charges of bribery, perjury and other counts related to a nine-month corruption probe into their dealings with a local developer.
The 21-count indictment was returned Monday by the Los Angeles County Grand Jury and unsealed Wednesday by Judge Patricia Schnegg at the criminal courts building in downtown Los Angeles.
Temple City Mayor Judy Wong was charged with six counts of bribery, three counts of perjury and one count of solicitation of bribery. Former mayor Cath Wilson was charged with three counts of bribery and three counts of perjury.
Former City Council candidate Scott Carwile, who was also once Wilson's campaign treasurer, was charged with four counts of perjury and one misdemeanor count of failing to report a campaign contribution.
"It's actually quite rare that we bring bribery charges, because of the nature of the crime," said Deputy District Attorney David Demerjian, who heads the DA's Public Integrity Division. "Normally, neither side involved in the bribery will report it to us. It's usually beneficial to them to just continue on with the conspiracy."
<snip>
Bail was set at $250,000 for Wong, $150,000 for Wilson and $100,000 for Carwile. All three posted bail, were booked, and were ordered to return July 9 for a pre-trial hearing.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown will unveil the findings of a 16-month probe into the Maywood Police Department this afternoon. Here's the AP's version of the story:
LOS ANGELES--A small police department that patrols two gritty cities engaged in widespread use of unlawful force and routinely lacked probable cause to justify arrests and searches, the state attorney general said Tuesday.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown released a lengthy report detailing the findings of a 16-month investigation of the Maywood Police Department.
The report slammed the department on several fronts, criticizing its hiring of officers with misdemeanor convictions and its fostering of what it called an endemic attitude of discourtesy, sexism and racial insensitivity.
"The Maywood Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprived persons of rights, privileges or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution," the report states.
Maywood Police Chief Frank Hauptmann's executive assistant Evelyn Ruedas said the chief was declining comment on the report.
DA's officials say search warrants were served at City Hall this morning and at 2 other locations. Three council members are under investigation for allegedly taking bribes from developer Randy Wang in exchange for providing smooth sailing to Wang's proposed mixed-use development on Las Tunas.
*UPDATE 1:42 p.m. from reporter Alfred Lee:
Investigators searched City Hall and five (not two) residences: Mayor Cathe Wilson, council members Judy Wong and David Capra, former City Council candidate Scott Carwile (whom Randy Wang has accused of taking cash bribes for his campaign) and Jay Liyanage, the former project manager of Wang's Piazza mall project.
Here's a link. Looks like there is an alleged pattern and practice of selling public office and public contracts in Illinois. Here's a sample or two from the actual indictment:
ROD BLAGOJEVICH could use his power to award State of Illinois contracts in order to generate campaign contributions.
ROD BLAGOJEVICH discussed his interest in running for President of the United States. During the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH informed Cari that it was easier for governors to solicit campaign contributions because governors had the ability to "award contracts" and give legal work, consulting work, and investment banking work to campaign contributors.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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