Boards to address FBI investigation at San Bernardino airport
An emergency joint meeting of the San Bernardino International Airport Authority board and the Inland Valley Development Agency board has been set for Friday to address the FBI's serving of seven search warrants this week at the airport and the Riverside home of airport developer Scot Spencer.
The meeting was called by Josie Gonzales, who chairs the county Board of Supervisors, co-chairs the Inland Valley Development Agency board, and is a member of the airport authority board.
"I was angry," Gonzales said. "I'm disappointed. I'm frustrated and angry because here we go again with not being able to get ourselves into positions of leadership and trust."
Gonzales said she told San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, who presides over the airport board - a joint-powers authority composed of San Bernardino County and San Bernardino, Colton, Loma Linda and Highland - that the board needed to hold the special meeting.
Morris was among a list of those named in the federal warrant, which included interim airport director Donald L. Rogers, aviation director Bill Ingraham and the airport's assistant director, Mike Burrows, among others.
Federal authorities are looking into whether there is a relationship between the named individuals regarding allegations of bribery, conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, money laundering and theft of federal funds, according to the federal warrant
Morris declined to comment about the warrant, but issued a statement saying:
"Because these matters involve the operations of the airport, the Airport Authority is meeting tomorrow. The Authority Board may have more to say regarding these matters after the meeting."
The IVDA is composed of members from San Bernardino County, the city of San Bernardino, Colton and Loma Linda.
The FBI raid on the airport came in the wake of an annual report released by the county's civil Grand Jury report this summer that criticized the board's management of construction, contracts and finances.
About 80 federal agents arrived at the airport around 9 a.m. Wednesday as part of a joint investigation with the District Attorney's Office and the state Attorney General's Office.
Agents served warrants at the airport's administrative offices on South Leland Norton Way and at Million Air, an aircraft refueling facility, as well as three airport hangars, and spent the day filling a U-Haul truck with records.
Rogers did not return phone calls Thursday, but released a statement through public relations firm Dameron Communications, saying his staff is fully cooperating with the investigation.
"We are confident that we have always operated within the law and in the best interests of our member cities, the county and the region," Rogers said.
The airport authority has frequently slammed the Grand Jury report, but in August submitted a nearly 600-page response to the findings, in large part agreeing to several recommendations, such as developing comprehensive policies and procedures and refining efforts to ensure thorough documentation of business procedures.
But at least one official connected with the airport authority board has called for more investigative work.
"At the last meeting I gave them a two-page report on Scot Spencer, and said you didn't respond to any of this," said Jody Scott, a Highland council member and alternate on the airport authority board.
Spencer, a convicted felon who has served time in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud and has been banned from the aviation industry, was the key figure who brought Million Air to the former Norton Air Force Base.
Spencer has not returned phone calls seeking comment.
Activity at the airport continued Thursday, with airplanes taking off and employees hustling in and out of buildings.
Ingraham said he spent part of the day meeting with staff.
"All I've done is maintain the airport operations and assure them this will be business as usual," he said. "It's another day at the office."
Still, Gonzales said the FBI raid is a setback to the airport authority's efforts to transform the former air base into a commercial airport.
Taxpayers are owed an explanation, she said.
"We need to give an accounting to the public to what has taken place and what we're going to do about it," Gonzales said.
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IF YOU GO
WHAT: Joint meeting to address the FBI's investigation of the San Bernardino International Airport
WHO: San Bernardino International Airport Authority board meeting and the Inland Valley Development Agency board
WHEN: 4:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Loma Linda Civic Center, Council Chambers 25541 Barton Road, Loma Linda
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