The former Mayor of Maywood and 10 others have been charged in a 34-count complaint alleging widespread corruption, the LA County District Attorney George Gascón announced today.
The complaint includes soliciting and receiving bribes, misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement over a three-year period, according to the D.A.’s office.
“No one is above the law. Public officials should be working to benefit the people, not their own bank accounts,” District Attorney Gascón said in a press release. “Pay-to-play politics have no place in Los Angeles County and we are all deserving of a clean government.”
Ramon Medina, a former mayor and councilmember for Maywood, is accused of seeking and receiving bribes from several of his co-defendants who sought to gain favor and do business in Maywood.
The others charged include: Reuben Martinez, David Mango, George Del Junco, Paul Garcia, Hector Castillo, Felipe Velarde, George Tello Ramirez, Felipe Aguirre, Mario Beltran and Ramon Medina Jr.
Medina is charged with six counts of soliciting a bribe, three counts each of conspiracy to commit a crime, embezzlement and failing to file campaign statements, two counts each of grand theft, misappropriation of public funds and perjury under oath and one count of failure to report behested payments, according to the D.A.
Medina, along with former City Manager Reuben Martinez and Building and Planning Director David Mango, are accused of trying several times to sell three redevelopment properties for less than their value, according to the press release.
Instead of affordable housing, the buyer would allegedly build a 24/7 charitable bingo hall. The three defendants allegedly promised potential buyers favorable financing terms and agreed to share a portion of the revenues generated by the bingo hall. In return, Medina is accused of soliciting bribes from one prospective buyer, co-defendant Paul Garcia, to recall a Maywood councilmember, the press release said.
“Between September 2016 and June 2018, the three men also are accused of authorizing contractor Felipe Velarde to complete construction projects for Medina’s friends and supporters using public funds. The work allegedly included building handicap ramps and driveways on private properties, installing speed bumps on streets that did not meet industry standards and repair work at Mango’s home in Studio City. In all, the city paid Velarde $1.53 million during that time – sometimes doubling and tripling payments to him compared to the previous two-year period,” the press release said.