Skimming money does undermine an agency, but often it's a small potatoes operation. The folks who don't skim from the agencies, but subvert the entire agency for their personal goals take vastly larger sums legally.
For example, Diane Crosier and Dan Puplava at the San Diego County of Education benefit from a corrupt system, and the SDCOE board and Superintendent Randy Ward do not even require Diane Crosier to report gifts.
SDCOE is protected by the news media in San Diego ever since Emily Alpert was
forced to stop her investigation of SDCOE.
Investigators call it a corrupt, "pay-to-play" bribery scheme
By Sarah Grieco
NBC San Diego
Jan 4, 2012
Charges have been filed against five current and former Sweetwater school officials in a South Bay corruption case, according to District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.
Former Superintendent Jesus Gandara, former board member Greg Sandoval, current board members Pearl Quinones and Arlie Ricasa and construction contracting executive Henry Amigable have all been charged with crimes.
Felony charges include bribery, perjury and influencing elected officials. Misdemeanor charges were also filed
If convicted, the maximum sentence would be four to seven years.
Gandara had the most charges with seven counts of felony and three misdemeanors. Amigable, whose company also allegedly made campaign contributions to board members, received two felony charges.
The yearlong investigation began when the DA office received multiple anonymous tips on the behavior of the past and present school board members.
Investigators are calling it a corrupt, "pay-to-play" bribery scheme, involving South Bay schools and college boards.
Dumanis said the case is believed to be the largest of its kind in San Diego County.
"For years, public officials regularly accepted what amounted to bribes in exchange for their votes on multi-million dollar construction projects," she said. “This case is outrageous and shameful.”
There are allegations of lavish meals, $1,000 bottles of wine, Southwest airline tickets, Lakers and Rose Bowl tickets that helped win multi-million dollar contracts for school construction.
Investigators from the DA’s office searched seven homes, including those of Quinones, Ricasa and Board Member Bertha Lopez. Investigators took computers, calendars and other records.
Dumanis repeatedly said during a press conference that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges or defendants could be possible.
The arraignment for Gandara, Sandoval, Ricasa, Quinones and Amigable is scheduled for Jan. 13
School Officials Accepted Thousands in Gifts: DA
Lavish meals, sporting events tickets and more given to school board officials
By Paul Krueger
NBC San Diego
Dec 28, 2011
The homes of three school board members were raided Dec. 20 by DA investigators.
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Investigators are calling it a corrupt, "pay-to-play" bribery scheme, involving South Bay schools and college boards.
Allegations of lavish meals, $100 bottles of wine, and Rose Bowl tickets that helped win multi-million dollar contracts for school construction.
According to search warrants made public today, one school board member got tickets to Padres, Chargers, Angels and Lakers games -- sometimes in the stadium's private suite -- plus two nights at the Biltmore Hotel in Pasadena and tickets to the Rose Bowl.
Last week, investigators from the District Attorney's office searched seven homes. The targets include three members of the Sweetwater Union High School District: Pearl Quinones, Bertha Lopez and Arlie Ricasa.
Investigators took computers, calendars and other records, but would not disclose the reason for those raids.
These search warrants, unsealed Tuesday in Superior Court, provide new details about an alleged felony bribery scheme involving a construction company executive who pursued school administrators and board members with gifts, in return for their approval of school construction projects.
One investigator calls it a "corrupt pay-for-play culture" that tarnished the Sweetwater Union School District, and Southwest College, in Chula Vista.
At the center of the alleged scam is Henry Amigable, who worked for Gilbane/SGI construction management.
Investigators say he spent thousands of dollars on food and wine for school board members, including a $1,700 restaurant meal.
Amigable's company also allegedly made campaign contributions to board members, to get the inside track on business, and spent more than $2,000 on theater tickets and dinner for South Bay board members and administrators, including former Sweetwater superintendent Jesus Gandara.
Gilbane Construction also allegedly paid a $1,000 beauty pageant fee, for Gandara's daughter, and a $500 beauty pageant scholarship for the daughter of former Sweetwater board president, Greg Sandoval.
Sandoval allegedly got those tickets to sporting events in San Diego and Los Angeles, and the New Year's eve hotel stay in Pasadena.
According to the search warrant, Sandoval "had his hand out for gifts so often, even employees from the construction company remarked that he has no shame."
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