Maywood Corruption Scandal: Former Mayor and 10 Ex-City Officials Charged with Bribery, Embezzlement, and Theft

Strategic Insights -

Los Angeles County prosecutors unveiled a 34-count criminal complaint against former Maywood Mayor Ramon Medina and 10 ex-city officials and vendors, revealing a years-long probe into pay-to-play practices, misused public funds, and twisted city purse strings for personal gain. Prosecutors allege that Medina took donations during his 2015 City Council campaign, promising contributors city work in return. The corruption scandal also involves ex-City Manager Reuben Martinez and former city planning director David Mango, who allegedly sought to sell properties earmarked for affordable housing to a bingo hall promoter. The city's police department was disbanded a decade ago after a Times investigation found it a haven for officers forced out of other agencies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prosecutors allege Medina took campaign donations from contributors on the promise they would be reimbursed with city work, resulting in multiple counts of solicitation of a bribe, conspiracy, embezzlement, and theft.
  • The complaint reveals Medina, Martinez, and Mango authorized $1.5 million in billing statements for construction work at homes and properties of ex-mayor friends and constituents, using city funds, and former City Atty. Michael Montgomery's campaign contribution was reimbursed by city funds.
  • Multiple city officials, including Martinez and Mango, allegedly engaged in a 2017 plot to sell affordable housing properties to a bingo hall promoter, with plans to sell below market value in exchange for a cut of the profits.
  • Other defendants include Mario Beltran, a former Bell Gardens city councilman, accused of filing a fraudulent recall petition; Paul Garcia, charged with three counts of bribery; and Felipe Aguirre, charged with failing to file proper campaign statements.
  • Prosecutors launched their investigation in 2018, seizing documents and conducting searches at City Hall, homes of elected officials, and other locations.
  • Maywood City Councilman Eddie De La Riva, who has long spoken out against questionable city practices, welcomed the charges as a victory for good government and community relief.

Statistics:

  • 34-count criminal complaint against 11 defendants
  • $1.5 million in billing statements for construction work approved by Martinez and Mango
  • $10,000 campaign donation from co-defendant Castillo to Medina's campaign in 2015
  • $56,000 city contract awarded to Castillo's engineering firm a year after the donation
  • 30,000 people living in 1.18 square miles of Maywood, Southern California's smallest city
  • Dozens of search warrants and hundreds of documents seized in the investigation
  • Recall efforts initiated against city officials in the past, including City Councilman Eddie De La Riva

Sources:

  • Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
  • Los Angeles Times investigation
  • Legal Monitor Worldwide
  • SyndiGate Media Inc.