LOS ANGELES (KNX) — A developer contracted by City of Industry to build a solar-power project has been accused of pocketing at least $5 million in taxpayer money.
According to L.A. County Superior Court filings, William Barkett, 63, of La Jolla, allegedly used the funds to avoid foreclosure on his San Diego home, pay off personal debts, and pay for his daughter’s multimillion dollar wedding in the South of France that featured a performance by Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli.
Barkett was charged back in September with embezzlement, grand theft, money laundering, and misappropriation of public funds. Prosecutors believe he siphoned off more than $8 million from funds handed over by the City of Industry to pay for installation of a solar farm.
City of Industry entered into an agreement with Barkett’s company in 2016 to develop the 450-megawatt solar farm on land in the Tres Hermanos Ranch area between Diamond Bar and Chino Hills. At the time, it was alleged Barkett owed more than $50 million from past loan defaults. It was not known if City of Industry officials knew this when they handed over more than $20 million over two years to Barkett, his companies, and subcontractors.
Two subcontractors later alleged Barkett’s company altered their invoices and inflated bills.
Some of that money found its way to funding a $1.7 million wedding for Barkett’s daughter, Jacqueline Chervak, in Antibes, France, prosecutors alleged. The wedding was reportedly held at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, on the French Riviera, which is famous for hosting historical figures like John Lennon, John F. Kennedy, and Pablo Picasso. Wedding-related expenses included chartering a private jet, and an eye-popping $650,000 flower bill.
For the honor of having world-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli perform at the nuptials, Barkett allegedly paid $356,269 in taxpayer money.
Barkett’s attorney told The Pasadena Star News that the city’s allegations were false. He contended his client complied with terms of a lease agreement with the city that governed construction of the solar farm.
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