Alioto Central Character In Foundation Investigation

Alioto Central Character In Foundation Investigation

By: Albert Fulcher, Senior Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 at 11:16 pm

An independent investigation of the Southwestern College Educational Foundation has lifted the curtains on two years of secretive operations by a former vice president, including a mysterious 2010 that mixed fund raising for scholarships with multimillion dollar construction contracts, extravagant gifts and campaign contributions while banning all news media and cameras.

 

Forensic auditor Scott Seo compiled a 33-page report released to the public by the governing board this week. Much of the carefully-worded report centers on the activities of Nicholas Alioto, SWC’s former vice president of business affairs. Alioto was cited for “inappropriate” activities during his involvement in the planning and management of the 2010 “Havana Nights” gala at the Loews Coronado Resort, including multiple instances of conflict of interest. Alioto solicited sizable donations from future Proposition R contractors and other construction firms who had made bids for contracts.

“It was inappropriate for the Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs to serve in such a direct fundraising capacity for the 2010 Gala, especially considering his responsibilities in the Proposition R contractor selection process,” wrote Seo. “Some of the maximum sponsorships and significant auction prizes were awarded by Proposition R contractors who were already or would eventually be awarded contracts.”

Seo’s investigation had a long list of “concerns” and “inappropriate” behaviors related to Alioto. Among them: nearly $15,000 in uncollected pledges, poor accounting practices, appearances of possible influence peddling, conflicts of interest, lax internal controls, inappropriate involvement of companies bidding for construction and architectural contracts, overpayment of vendors and use of Proposition R funds to pay for Foundation activities.

“It is not unreasonable to suggest that a potential donor could have been compelled to make a donation based on a solicitation from Mr. Alioto if his/her firm was currently or could potentially be considered for a contract that was under control of Mr. Alioto and his responsibility as the Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs,” read the report.

Alioto was able to insinuate his way into Foundation affairs follow a spring 2008 reorganization of the college by former superintendent Raj K. Chopra and approved by a previous governing board. Chopra fired or transferred Foundation staff, including its director, and transferred control of the Foundation to his office. Gutted, the Foundation lay dormant for nearly two years. Chopra cancelled two of the organization’s annual galas and conducted little visible fund raising.

In 2010, with Proposition R contracts out to bid and a contentious governing board election looming in November, Chopra ordered the gala resurrected. The March event at the Loews Coronado was attended by several contractors involved in the San Diego Country District Attorney investigation, including Seville Construction, Echo Pacific and BCA Architects. Other contractors also bidding for Proposition R funds were solicited for contributions by Alioto. Echo Pacific was the winning bidder for a weekend of wine tasting and golf with Alioto at a Napa resort hotel. Representatives of Echo Pacific joined Alioto on the getaway and three weeks later were awarded a $4 million contract from Alioto which was approved by the board. Incumbent board members Terry Valladolid and Yolanda Salcido later received large campaign contributions from Echo Pacific. Valladolid and Salcido were staunch supporters of Chopra and Alioto.

Alioto’s home was raided by the San Diego County District Attorney in December along with those of Echo Pacific’s Henry Amigable, former SWC director of facilities John Wilson, and four Sweetwater Union High School District trustees. Amigable and three of the trustees have been charged with multiple felonies for bribery and influence peddling. Alioto and Wilson have yet to be charged. Investigators reported they were unable to find Chopra, who may have fled the country. The U.S. State Department has a mutual legal assistance agreement in place with India, Chopra’s native country. San Diego County District Attorney spokespersons were asked if Chopra could face extradition if charged with felonies, but they did not reply before deadline.

Seo, in his report, said he examined several aspects of Alioto’s involvement with the Foundation, including:

Uncollected pledges in excess of $15,000. When an independent auditor requested documents in an attempt to reconcile the discrepancy, Alioto was uncooperative and took nearly four months to respond. Seo wrote that there were also $3,000 in uncollected sponsorships and a $1,047 overpayment to one unidentified vendor.

Fellow Circle sponsorships. Seo wrote that “many of the firms who were awarded Proposition R contracts also contributed…maximum sponsorships” of $15,000. In total, Seo reported, more than $190,000 was pledged for these sponsorships. “To the extent that contributions were made in response to aggressive solicitations made by SWC officials who were in positions of awarding Proposition R contracts would have been inappropriate,” Seo concluded.

Alioto’s involvement. Seo said that Alioto’s active participation in the gala “could have the appearance of a potential conflict.” Seville Construction also participated in the planning of the gala and the 2010 Foundation golf tournament “with the full knowledge and possible direction of Alioto,” Seo concluded. “To the extent that Seville was compensated for these activities from Proposition R funds under their contract with SWC would be inappropriate,” wrote Seo.

Insufficient internal control. Seo agreed with the Foundations auditor that internal controls were lax following Chopra’s dismissal and reassignment of Foundation staff. Governing board member Dr. Jean Roesch, a staunch Chopra supporter, was the board’s liaison to the Foundation in 2010.

Angela Amigable. Seo expressed concern that Alioto hired Henry Amigable’s wife, Angela, to work on the gala and paid her $3,000 without a contract or agreement between her and the Foundation.

Seo concluded that Foundation operations improved substantially for the 2011 gala. Chopra resigned following the November 2010 election. The new board majority of Norma Hernandez, Tim Nader and Nick Aguilar directed Interim Superintendent Denise Whittaker to restore Foundation staff and remove Alioto from Foundation affairs. Alioto resigned in February 2011. Hernandez became the board’s Foundation liaison. Seo said the 2011 gala corrected the problems and was “well-organized and well-managed.”

http://www.theswcsun.com/2012/03/22/alioto-central-character-in-foundation-investigation/

Seven Hours in Fifteen Minutes, Sweetwater defendants find little solace in open session’s public comment.

Seven Hours in Fifteen Minutes

For those that missed it, here is “seven hours in 15 minutes” of public comment at the Sweetwater Union High School District held On January 30.

Board members and administrator face almost 800 people in open session. On the agenda, a request for the district to fund an estimated $1.2 million in legal fees for current and past board members and administrators charges with several felony and misdemeanor charges in District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’ pay to play corruption charges.

With almost seven hours of open session, teachers, students and the community speak out against the alleged corruption giving receiving little support.  Not only did public speakers speak against those charged with crimes, but Board Member John McCann and Superintentent Dr. Edward Brant got an earful from the public in their roles in what that majority of speakers called a long time of controversy, corruption and lies. Legal fees, the Vega Report, recall petitions, wrongful hiring, campaign contributions and Brown Act violations, stepping down from office and a strange cat fight between members of the public and Board Member John McCann dominated the long night.

Board Member Arlie Ricasa defended the need for funds, but offered “conditions” be added to the agenda that if found guilty of any charges, the money should be paid back in full.

 

Southwestern College Education Association takes a stand on legal fees in “pay to play” charges

With a gymnasium crowded with more than 700 people, the Sweetwater Unified High School Governing Board spent most of seven hours listening to arguments against the board’s agenda to vote on the district to pick up the tab for their lawyers. Submitting a resolution, the Southwestern College Education Association took a stand to vote no on the legal fees and requested the long-awaited “Vega Report” be made public immediately.

SCEA President Andrew MacNeill delivered the resolution in open session. Within 30 minutes after closed session, the entire report was available online at the SUHSD website. By midnight, when it came time to take a vote on whether the legal fees should be paid by the district, no motions were made by the board and the matter is dropped, but it is over?

Legal counsel advised the board that it may bring the matter back to the board agenda at any time.  Counsel’s current “guesstimation” of legal fees for those charged is $1.3 million.

Former board member Gregory Sandoval, former superintendent Jesus Gandara, Current board members Pearl Quinones and Arlie Ricasa are all charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in the District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’ high profile investigation of the “pay to play” culture between South Bay school districts and contractors in voter approved bond measures.

 

DA Decries County’s ‘Largest’ Corruption Case

'WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION' — San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said the corruption case her office is pursuing is the largest of its kind in county history. Dumanis said said a 'pay for play culture' spawned scores of illegal actions at Southwestern and Sweetwater, including bribery, perjury and inlfuencing an elected official.

Bribery, influence peddling center of a year-long probe

 By: Albert H. Fulcher, Senior Staff WriterEnrique Raymundo, Contributor

Published: Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 3:24 am

December 20, 2011 began as a mellow holiday with the morning sun working away at the winter chill. By dusk the landscape of South Bay politics and its two largest school systems was forever changed.

 

In a lightening strike that combined military precision and lockdown secrecy, a small battalion of officers armed with guns and search warrants swept through the homes of two former Southwestern College administrators, five current and former Sweetwater Union High School District officials, and a construction company executive who worked with both districts.

Arraigned so far are Sweetwater trustees Arlie Ricasa and Pearl Quiñones, former trustee Greg Sandoval, former superintendent Jesus Gandara, and Seville Construction executive Henry Amigable. They face up to seven years in prison on multiple felony counts of bribery, perjury, filing a false instrument, influencing an elected official and other charges. All pled not guilty. Facing possible charges are former Southwestern College administrators Nicholas Alioto and John Wilson. The home of Sweetwater trustee Bertha Lopez was also searched, but she has not been charged.

More people could be searched and arrested, according to San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.

At a press conference the week after the raids Dumanis decried the “culture of corruption” at Sweetwater and the “pay-for-play culture” at both districts.

“The widespread corruption we uncovered during our investigation of this case is outrageous and shameful,” Dumanis said. “For years, public officials regularly accepted what amounted to bribes in exchange for their votes on multi-million dollar construction projects. The corruption was nothing short of systemic. Today’s charges begin the process of holding those officials accountable for their actions on behalf of the taxpayers who footed the bill for lavish dinners, concert and theatre tickets, and much more.”

At the center of the charges are two voter-approved construction bond measures totaling more than $1 billion. Sweetwater’s $644 million Proposition O and Southwestern’s $389 million Proposition R attracted many of the state’s largest architectural and construction firms to compete for some of the county’s best-funded projects.

On Dec. 16 District Attorney investigators were granted search warrants by a superior court judge based on hundreds of pages of evidence DA personnel say prove that the educators and Amigable engaged in bribery and other illegal activities prior to and after the awarding of lucrative contracts. Affidavits requesting the search warrants were three inches thick and enumerated scores of examples of alleged criminal behavior.

Dumanis said there was a clear link between favorable treatment the school officials received from contractors and the contracts awarded.

“(School officials) also traded their votes for significant campaign donations,” she said. “When it came time for the school board trustees to document all of these gifts on their statements of economic interests, they simply lied. Taxpayers, parents and students deserve better. This is an ongoing investigation. Additional charges and additional defendants are possible.”

District Attorney spokespersons would not speculate about additional defendants and would neither confirm or deny that former SWC superintendent Raj K. Chopra and former SWC trustee Yolanda Salcido were targets of the investigation.

Evidence collected showed extensive communication between employees of the construction and architectural firms and the school officials, mostly on personal e-mail accounts between 2007 and 2010. E-mail seized by the DA showed meetings for evenings of drinking, expensive dinners, golf vacations, theatre tickets, NBA and NFL games. School officials also accepted large donations to pay for activities by their children.

Arlie Ricasa

Ricasa, SWC’s director of student development, is now on non-disciplinary leave pending the college’s internal investigation ordered by the new governing board majority last April. About 20 Ricasa family members and supporters filled the courtroom with “I Love Arlie” buttons at the arraignment.

Gilbane records show $1,280.22 in expenses for dinners and gifts for Ricasa. E-mails obtained by the DA suggesting she demanded campaign contributions, $1,800 to send her daughter to a Congressional Youth Leadership Conference, $2,500 for a table for a MAAC Project event, and others. Hector Romero, president of HAR Construction, reported contributing to Ricasa campaigns and donating to the Sweetwater Mariachi Foundation with the hope of additional contracts.

Ricasa’s defense attorney Allen Bloom said he has seen similar accusations and high profile press conferences in the recent past with the DA’s office that ended up in exonerations and apologies.

“I am hoping to have a press conference in the future to say that Arlie is not guilty,” he said. “The supporters are here because they love her.”

John Wilson

In December 2010 Alioto initiated a contract for “John Wilson Consulting” to assist in the management and supervision of all aspects of the SWC’s bond related capital construction program. In May, Seville invoiced SWC for Wilson as “Program Liaison” for 118 hours for a total of $19,470. Alioto approved the invoice and Wilson continued his employment with Seville through August 2010 for a total of $80,850. Seville donated heavily to incumbent SWC trustees seeking re-election, including at least $7,500 to Salcido, $2,400 to Terri Valladolid and $4,000 to trustee Jorge Dominguez.

Wilson’s search warrant alleges that he “greatly influenced” the SWC Governing Board’s vote regarding Seville and indicated he provided inside information prior to them being awarded the corner lot contract. His dating relationship with Salcido during this time “clearly appears to be a conflict.”

Nicholas Alioto

Alioto’s long list of pay-to-play activities with Seville and BCA Architects show evenings of drinking, lunches, dinners, golfing vacations (including a three-day trip to Pebble Beach), wine, birthday gifts and contributions to three SWC board members Alioto actively endorsed.

In June 2010, Alioto spent a weekend with Echo Pacific President Christopher Rowe, Amigable and Paul Bunton of BCA Architects at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa. The trip was won by Echo Pacific in an auction at an SWC Educational Foundation gala that shut out the media and banned “unauthorized” cameras, including those of paid ticket holders.

Alioto resigned in February 2011 shortly after the new governing board majority of Norma Hernandez, Tim Nader and Nick Aguilar took over. Alioto received a $60,000 separation settlement, but no district-funded legal guarantees. His Chula Vista home was foreclosed in July and he currently lives in a Poway guest house on Rowe’s property.

Henry Amigable

Former Gilbane Construction employee Henry Amigable faces two felony counts involving bribery and influence peddling to gain multi-million dollar contracts from Sweetwater and Southwestern.

Amigable resigned from Gilbane in March 2009 and immediately went to work for Seville in April. Gilbane officials reported he resigned prior to being fired for problems with his work performance and abuse of client entertainment expenditures.

In 2007 Amigable’s dinners and junkets began involving SWC’s former governing board member Yolanda Salcido, her boyfriend Wilson and Alioto.

District Attorney documents claim that Amigable was key to Seville winning SWC’s Proposition R program management contract due to his close relationship with Salcido and Wilson. Wilson retired from SWC on December 30, 2009 after the SWC board accepted his recommendation of Seville as project manager in November.

Attorney Dan Greene said Amigable was doing what he was supposed to in a very competitive industry.

“He is an employee,” said Greene. “He is…trained by companies he has worked for that you need to make connections. You need to introduce people at meet-and-greets, that involves wining and dining. He is a person that is doing his job. If this were the private sector, I am sure that no one would be shocked. Wining and dining happens all the time.”

Greene said Amigable is not required to file reports on expenditures like public officials, but is responsible to report all his expenses to his employer and that “he does, and he did.”

When asked about bribery charges, Greene called it a “pretty big word that is interpreted broadly in the state of California.”

“Let me say this, what bribery requires under any law is corrupt intent,” said Green. “I think what we are going to see throughout this process is the Mr. Amigable had absolutely no corrupt intent. He is a man just like everyone else in this country that is trying to do his job.”

Greg Sandoval

Sandoval has ties with both districts and a long list of alleged bribes and favorable treatment. He is former SWC vice president of student affairs and served as interim president during the spring 2007 semester. Sandoval left the college in September 2008 under pressure from Chopra and allegations of sexual harassment. He recently disclosed documents that cleared him of those charges.

Sandoval reported $470 in gifts from Gilbane in 2007-08, but the DA alleged gifts in excess of $5,270, including $500 for his daughter to enter a beauty pageant.

Defense attorney Ricardo Gonzalez called the charges against Sandoval “overly sensationalized” and said his client is a man of high character.

“This is a man who has worked in the education world and gave his life to education, and continues to do so,” said Gonzalez.

Pearl Quiñones

Quiñones received $23,900 for her 2010 campaign from Seville as well as dinners, theatre and donations to the National Latino Education Fund in excess of $1,800. Quiñones listed $45 in theatre tickets and no reportable interests for 2008.

Her attorney Marc Carlos said her vote was not for sale. When asked if she would relinquish her seat on the board, Quiñones replied, “No, absolutely no.”

Jesus Gandara

Hired as Sweetwater superintendent in 2006, Gandara was fired in June 2011 for his credit card expenses, hiring a public relation firm without board consent and inviting district vendors to his daughter’s bridal shower, complete with a money tree. Sweetwater spent more than $520,000 in Proposition O money last year on public relations for its ongoing projects.

Records show Amigable treated Gandara and his family to expensive dinners and events before and after Gandara recommended Seville for Prop O contracts. Gandara received $6,124 in entertainment expenses paid by Gilbane and $1,000 for his daughter’s beauty pageant entry fees. HAR Construction reported purchasing dinners, lunches and drinks, and renting a $1,500 Halloween costume for Gandara in 2010.

Gandara’s attorney Paul Pfingst said most of the offenses are due to filling out forms incorrectly and plans to come back to court with evidence that supports his client.

“My client has been in education almost his entire adult life and before he came to San Diego he had an impeccable background,” said Pfingst. “Every place he has been he has received accolades.”

Enrique Raymundo contributed to this story

http://www.theswcsun.com/2012/01/27/da-decries-county%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98largest%E2%80%99-corruption-case/

Sweetwater Board Members Arraigned on Corruption Charges

Southwestern College and Sweetwater Union High School District leaders were arraigned Friday after allegedly participating in “pay-to-play” tactics with construction companies for years.

• By Albert Fulcher
• Email the author
• 6:19 pm

Honorable Michael Smyth, San Diego County Superior Court

Voters approved more than $1 billion in bonds for school improvements in 2006 and 2008. What followed, the District Attorney’s office alleges, was the largest public corruption case of its kind the department and San Diego has ever seen.

The five defendants in the Sweetwater Unified High School District corruption case, four of them current or former board members, pleaded not guilty to all charges this afternoon downtown, with a large audience of concerned citizens, supporters and media in attendance.

Judge Michael Smyth released all five defendants on their own recognizance, with no bail set.

A status conference has been scheduled for March 23 at 9 a.m. for all defendants.

Board members Pearl Quiñones and Arlie Ricasa will be booked and released Jan. 22 at the Los Colinas Detention Faciliy. When asked both said they were unwilling to step down from their present positions on the Board of Trustees and further stated through their attorneys that they were innocent of all charges.

Former superintendent Jesus Gandara is scheduled to be booked and released on March 23 due to his residency in Texas. Former board member Gregory Sandoval January 22 and Henry Amigable, former Gilbane employee on January 29.

Contractor Henry Amigable left immediately after the arraignment but his defense attorney said his client was only doing his job and reported all expenditures properly. He said that what is being called “pay to play” is misconstrued and the charges of bribery false.

Ricasa had a large group of supporters scattered through the courtroom, many wearing “I Love Arlie” buttons. Among the group were Southwestern Colleges current Associated Student Organization President Claudia Duran who has worked closely with Ricasa in her role.

On Dec. 21, the DA’s office ordered warrant sweeps of current and former Sweetwater Unified High School District board members and contractor Henry Amigable.

Gifts to decision-makers ranged from tickets to Lakers, Chargers and Padres games to tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, the DA’s office said.

Many of the gifts and contributions went unreported, violating Political Reform Act requirements.

Former superintendent Jesus Gandara

Jesus Gandara

The former SUHSD superintendent is charged with eight felony counts between April 2008 and April 2011, with four counts of perjury and four counts of filing false instrument and three misdemeanor charges of public official-wrongful influence between January 2008 and June 2010. Gandara wasfired by the district’s board last summer.

Former SUHSD Board Member Gregory Sandoval

Gregory Sandoval

The former SUHSD board member is charged with eight felony counts between April 2008 and April 2011, with four counts of perjury and four counts of filing false instrument along with two misdemeanor charges of public official-wrongful influence.

SUHSD Board Member Pearl Quinones

Pearl Quiñones

The SUHSD board member is charged with four felony charges including two counts of perjury and two counts of filing false instrument between April 2008 and April 2009 and one misdemeanor charge of public official-wrongful influence.

SUHSD Board Member Arlie Ricasa

Arlie Ricasa

The SUHSD board member is charged with four felony counts between April 2008 and April 2010 including two counts of perjury by declaration and two counts of filing false instrument and two misdemeanor charges between January 2008 and June 2010 of public official-wrongful influence.

Henry Amigable

Henry Amigable

The contractor and former Gilbane employee is charged with two felony counts between January and March 2008 of giving or offering a bribe and obtaining thing of value to influence member of a legislative body.

Evidence collected by District Attorney’s office before Dec. 21 warrant sweep:

• Sept. 1, 2006. Dr. Jesus M. Gandara hired as superintendent of Sweetwater Unified High School District.
• Nov. 7, 2006. Voters approve Proposition O, a $644 million bond measure to renovate, upgrade, repair, construct and acquire new school building and support facilities.
• Jan. 19, 2007. Henry Amigable and wife host dinner for Gandara, his spouse, Sandoval, his spouse and BCA architects Paul Bunton and Rachael Del Fierro. $1,162.08, non-reported.
• Feb. 2, 2007. Amigable bought lunch for former SUHSD interim superintendent Bruce Husson and former SUHSD Director of Planning, Construction and Maintenance Kay Wright. $83.62, non-reported.
• Feb. 20, 2007. Board of trustees directed Gandara to initiate RFQ process for Program Management Services and recommend a finalist to the board.
• Feb. 24, 2007. Amigable took Ramon Leyba, SUHSD assistant superintendent for facilities and operations; his wife; John Wilson, director of facilities and operations, SWC; and former SWC board member Yolanda Salcido to dinner. $696.66, non-reported.
• Feb. 26, 2007. Request for Qualification/Request for Proposal issued. Seven proposals received by March 23, 2007.
• March 2, 2007. Amigable to Sandoval and wife to dinner. $646.23, non-reported.
• March 9, 2007. Amigable and wife hosed dinner for Gandara and daughter, Sandoval and wife, Ricasa and husband and SGI President Rene Flores. $1,741.70, non-reported.
• March 30, 2007. Panel narrows three firms for final interview. Gandara and Leyba on final interview committee.
• March 30, 2007. Amigable took Sandoval, Wilson and guest to dinner. $629.52, non-reported.
• April 2, 2007. Amigable took Leyba to dinner. $192.69, non-reported.
• April 20, 2007. Gandara recommended Gilbane/SGI as top candidate. Leyba stated in his opinion it was clear that Gilbane/SGI was Gandara’s choice and the final selection panel swayed heavily in its favor. He reported that Harris and Associates, Program Management for Prop BB, had done an excellent job and would have been more cost effective to award it contract for Prop O. He further stated he was the only opposing vote for Gilbane/SGI. He was made the director of education and incurred a $20,000 pay cut.
• May 7, 2007. SUHSD board approves interim agreement with Gilbane/SGI for Program Management Services for Proposition BB and Proposition O bond measures.
• May 11, 2007. Amigable to Leyba to lunch. $38.00, non-reported.
• May 12, 2007. Amigable took Ricasa and husband to dinner. $313.18, non-reported.
• May 16, 2007. Gandara recommended and board approved interim agreement with Gilbane/SGI for Program Management Services for Proposition O Bond Measure.
• May 17, 2007. Amigable took Leyba and Ortiz to lunch. $60.40, non-reported.
• June 14, 2007. SGI contributed $3,600 to Ricasa’s campaign for State Assembly District 78.
• June 16, 2007. Amigable; his wife; Pearl Quiñones; Gandara; his wife; and Rosario Nunez to dinner. $835.66, non-reported.
• June 18, 2007. Amigable and wife, Leyba and wife, Pat Buckley to dinner. $212.82, non-reported.
• June 20, 2007. Amigable paid for drinks and appetizers for Sandoval and Wilson. $53.34, non-reported.
• June 24, 2007. Amigable to Gandara to lunch. $14.09, non-reported.
• Aug. 11, 2007. Amigable and wife took Gandara and wife to dinner. $175.53, non-reported.
• Aug. 15, 2007. Amigable took Gandara to lunch. $58.47, non-reported.
• Aug. 17, 2007. Amigable took Sandoval, Wilson and Art Lopes to lunch. $85.66, non-reported.
• Aug. 24, 2007. Amigable and wife took Sandoval and Ernie Comacho, Pacifica Services to dinner. $384.35, non-reported.
• Sept. 8, 2007. Amigable and wife took Gandara and wife to dinner. $360.96, non-reported.
• Sept. 13, 2007. Amigable paid for drinks for Sandoval and wife, Gandara and wife at Hotel del Coronado. $87.28, non-reported.
• Oct. 8, 2007. Amigable donated to the National Latino Education Fund at the behest of Pearl Quiñones. Non-reported.
• Oct. 11, 2007. Amigable and wife treated Gandara and wife to dinner and theater. $482.09, non-reported.
• Oct. 26, 2007. Amigable and wife hosted dinner for Sandoval and wife, Ricasa and husband, Gandara and wife. $797.73, non-reported.
• Nov. 2, 2007. Amigable entertained Quiñones, Rosario Nunez and Ortiz to dinner and Jersey Boys performance. $976.23-dinner non-reported.
• Nov. 10, 2007. Amigable and wife treat Sandoval and wife, Gandara and wife to dinner and tickets to Jersey Boys. $1,103.22. Gandara did not report dinner and tickets. Sandoval reported tickets.
• Dec. 8, 2007. Amigable and wife took Sandoval, Gandara and wife to dinner at Hyatt Hotel $701.07, non-reported.
• Dec. 10, 2007. Gandara recommended extension of the Proposition O Program Management Contract, board approved.
• Dec. 21, 2007. SGI contributed $2,500 to SUHSD board member Jim Cartmill’s campaign committee.
• Jan. 5, 2008. Amigable and wife host dinner for Sandoval, wife, Gandara, wife, SWC Art Lopez, and guest. $1,090.70, non-reported.
• Jan. 25, 2008. Amigable took Sandoval and wife to dinner. $185.71, non-reported.
• Jan. 28, 2008. Gandara recommended Gilbane/SGI awarded $7.5 million contract. Board approved with 5-0 vote.
• Investigator determines that in 2007, Henry Amigable, Gilbane employee, curried favors and received preferential treatment from Gandara and several board members by “wining and dining” them prior to Evidence of Proposition O. Quid Pro Quo-Ricasa did not report and reportable interest for 2007 and 2008. Quiñones listed $45 theater tickets from Gilbane and nor reportable interest for 2008. Sandoval listed $250 for theater tickets in 2007 from Gilbane, $120 in Padre tickets and $100 for dinner in 2008 from Gilbane. Gandara listed no reportable interest for 2007 and 2008.
• Evidence indicating SGI paid Ricasa $1,800 to send her daughter to a Congressional Youth Leadership Conference
• May 20, 2008. Gandara recommended amendment for first nine projects of Proposition O for an amount not to exceed $9.9 million. Board approved with a 3-2 vote.
• Nov. 4, 2008. Voters approve Proposition R, a $389 million bond measure to renovate, upgrade, repair, construct and acquire new school buildings and support facilities
• March 2009. Amigable resigned from Gilbane Building Company and hired by Seville Construction Services in April 2009. Gilbane reports he resigned prior to being fired due to reported problems with his work performance and abuse of client entertainment expenditures. Gilbane provided Amigable’s expense statements involving SUHSD.
• Sept. 9, 2009. John Wilson, senior director of business operations and facilities planning, announced retirement effective Dec. 30, 2009. Southwestern College (SWC) board approved.
• Nov. 18, 2009. SWC governing board selected Seville Construction Services Inc. as Project Managers for Prop R.
• SGI contributed approximately $81,500 from 2007 through 2010, including $13,600 to Arlie Ricasa and $22,500 to Friends of Jim Cartmill. Some of these contributions made prior to SUHSD board’s approval of the Proposition O contract on Jan. 28, 2008.
• SGI contributed $12,500 to John McCann for school board 2010, $23,900 to Quiñones, $2,000 to Friends of Bertha Lopez and $7,000 to Friends of Greg Sandoval.
• Amigable continued to wine and dine Sweetwater School Board during 2008 through March 2009 when he resigned from Gilbane.
• Gandara entertainment expenses paid by Gilbane from 2007 through March 2009 are $6,124.95. $1,000 was given to daughter for fees associated with a beauty pageant.
• Sandoval received $5,270.85 with $500 paid to his daughter for beauty pageant scholarship.
• Quiñones received $1,872.23, Ricasa $1,280.22, Lopez $605.56 and Leyba $603.14.
• May 11, 2010. SCS submitted invoice listing John Wilson as program liaison, and billed SWC $19,470 for 118 hours at $165 an hour.
• May 31, 2010. Contract with Gilbane/SGI expired. SUHSD did not renew contract and voted to award contract solely to SGI. Elimination of Gilbane gave SGI a 51 percent increase in revenue.
• September 7, 2010 e-mail from SGI Jaime Ortiz, Ricasa request SGI to buy a table for herself and guest to MAAC event (Ricasa Chair of MAAC) $2,500
• Hector Romero, president HAR Construction, admitted purchasing dinners, lunches and drinks for board members Greg Sandoval and his wife, Arlie Ricasa, Bertha Lopez, Jesus Gandara and his wife and renting Halloween costume for Gandara.
• Romero reported contributing to Ricasa and Lopez’s political campaigns and donations to the Sweetwater Educational and Mariachi Foundation.
• Romero reported being with Gandara in Mexico when Gandara contacted SGI and solicited a $20,000 contribution to Jim Cartmill’s campaign for SUHSD School Board.
• Romero advised SGI made $12,500 contribution to John McCann’s campaign for SUHSD Board.
• Romero reported being pressured to donate to Sweetwater Educational Foundation by SGI Program Manager Jaime Ortiz.
• Romero reported he contributed to political campaigns of Ricasa and donations to the Mariachi Foundation with the hope of additional construction contracts through a “lease-lease back” contract.
• Romero admitted developing relationship with Gandara to gain favors, claimed harassment by SGI Jaime Ortiz, claiming Ortiz responsible for not approving work performed by HAR Construction resulting with HAR Construction’s contract terminated. Romero filed a civil suit.
• Romero records showed he spent $1,568.59 in 2010 on Gandara and his wife and $707.92 on Sandoval and his wife.
• Sandoval reported $225 in gifts from HAR Construction and claimed no reportable interests for 2010.

http://imperialbeach.patch.com/articles/sweetwater-board-members-arraigned-on-corruption-charges?

Southwestern College Official Placed on Administrative Leave

The Southwestern College Governing Board responds to the district attorney’s South Bay investigation.

• By Albert Fulcher
• Email the author
• 3:33 pm

Southwestern College placed Arlie Ricasa, director of student development, on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave Thursday, pending the college’s own internal investigation.

Ricasa faces four felony and two misdemeanor charges after District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis filed charges on Wednesday morning in the ongoing South Bay corruption case involving the Sweetwater Union High School District and Southwestern College. Charges include perjury, filing false instrument and wrongful influence.

Ricasa was elected to the Sweetwater board of trustees in 1998, began working at Southwestern in 1990 and became director of student development in 2001.

On Wednesday, after three hours in closed session, Southwestern College Governing Board President Norma Hernandez said the governing board was continuing to cooperate and share information with the District Attorney’s Office.

Following a contentious 2010 election when two long-term incumbents, Yolanda Salcido and Jorge Dominguez, were voted out of office, the new board requested the college hold its own internal investigation at an open session in April 2011. It hired an external forensic audit to review prior Proposition R contracts and related fiscal issues.

This came after numerous complaints from the college community about the actions of college administrators and board members in their handling of the Corner Lot Project funded by voter-approved, $389 million Proposition R. Other complaints included large amounts of money collected by incumbents for campaigns and the several “pay to play” accusations reported by the college community and county, local and college news media.

“Our own internal investigation is ongoing,” said Hernandez. “And to protect the integrity of the process the findings will be shared with the public only upon completion.”

Hernandez said that the governing board acknowledges that the recent events from the DA’s office had a profound impact on the college community and raised many questions about the construction contracts at the college.

“These questions will be answered in the days and weeks ahead as more information becomes available and the board can make legally sound decisions based on accurate evidence,” said Hernandez. “We acknowledge that the events of the past two weeks have been unsettling and distracting.”

In public comment, Derrick Roach, a Chula Vista resident, brought several documents to present to the board and said he was concerned about the recent investigations and charges involving SUHSD and Southwestern College.

Roach said he knew some of the board members, administrators and faculty at the college and had a great respect for their continued good efforts in providing higher education to students in the area.

“I know that they are good people and their hearts are in the right place,” he said. “But there is a cloud hanging over the college right now. A cloud of suspicion, accusations of corruption and I call on the board to take action.”

Roach said that he was concerned that Ricasa was still currently working as director of student development at Southwestern College at a time when she now faces several felony criminal charges.

“Ms. Ricasa, in the past, has been the subject of investigations with the Fair Political Practices Commission in which she has claimed all the allegations were baseless. But she was found to be guilty and fined,” he said.

Roach said he is a concerned parent with children soon to be at the community college level and asked the board to investigate these charges. He said he believed in this governing board to do the right thing.

Southwestern College Education Association President Andrew MacNeill said he commended the board on the way they have met this challenge so far, and the faculty, staff and community that spoke out over a year ago about the questionable activities in contract negotiations between contractors and college administrators.

“I do not disagree with Mr. Roach,” he said. “I think that this should also extend to those who do business with Southwestern College. This community has waited 50 years for the corner lot to be built and they deserve us to do a thorough job in finding out what things are unethical, immoral and possibly illegal before we proceed.”

Hernandez said the board appreciates the patience of the college community, faculty staff and students.

“On Monday we will resume our important mission to educate and elevate our community with all of the talent, energy and commitment that Southwestern College has been known for since 1961.”

http://imperialbeach.patch.com/articles/southwestern-college-releases-internal-investigation-to-da-s-office-arlie-ricasa-placed-on-administrative-leave

Charges Filed in South Bay Corruption Case by District Attorney

DA Bonnie Dumanis filed multiple felony charges to five people involved in the Sweetwater Union High School District’s controversial handling of Proposition O funds after raiding their homes in December.

• By Albert Fulcher
• Email the author
• 1:39 pm

Board members, administrators and contractors have been the center of attention over the holidays both at the Sweetwater Union High School District and Southwestern College. Called “wide-ranging public corruption” this morning, after almost a year of investigation, charges were filed.

Bonnie M. Dumanis, San Diego County district attorney announced that five people investigated now face a myriad of felony criminal charges.

Pearl Quiñones, SUHSD board president, Board Member Arlie Ricasa, former board member Greg Sandoval, former SUHSD Superintendent Jesus Gandara and Henry Amigable, former senior vice president at Seville Construction Services of Pasadena were notified this morning of charges against them, said Dumanis.

“Today we are announcing criminal charges in what may be the largest public corruption case our office has ever prosecuted,” said Dumanis. Five defendants have been charged with multiple felonies including bribery, perjury and influencing an elected official.”

This came after a morning raid of seven people on December 20, including SUHSD board members, a former superintendent and a contractor that worked for the district in projects from Sweetwater’s $644 million Proposition O.

The District Attorney’s investigation states that all defendants were involved in a “pay to play” culture with businesses using voter approved bond projects involving hundreds of millions of dollars.

Dumanis said felony charges included perjury, bribery, filing false instrument, wrongful influence of a public official and obtaining a thing of value to influence a member of a legislative body. She said if convicted, the defendants face between four to seven years in state prison and fines.

This is an ongoing investigation,” said Dumanis. “Additional charges and additional defendants are possible.”

Dumanis said this investigation has been ongoing for nearly a year and the “widespread corruption we uncovered during our investigation of this case is outrageous and shameful.”

Also in the December raid, former Southwestern College vice president of business and financial affairs, Nicholas Alioto and John Wilson, former director of business services along with SUHSD Board Member Bertha Lopez were not mentioned in today’s report.

Patch will follow up with current details of charges and evidence gathered in the Sweetwater Union High School District Proposition O and the Southwestern College Proposition R investigations by the DA’s office.