FBI Arrests 2 LA City Building Inspectors On Federal Bribery Charges
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Two city of Los Angeles building inspectors were arrested Friday morning on suspicion of accepting bribes to approve construction of residential projects without ever visiting or inspecting the sites.
The FBI arrested Hugo Joel Gonzalez, 49, of Eagle Rock, and Raoul Joseph Germain, 59, of Altadena. Both men are accused of collecting a combined total of $15,000 in bribes from undercover agents.
The arrests culminated an eight-month undercover investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office at the FBI.
According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, federal prosecutors received a tip from an informant who claimed the inspectors took cash bribes in exchange for necessary permit approvals on residential construction projects in South Los Angeles.
With the FBI's help, the informant and an undercover agent who posed as a contractor, gave cash bribes to Gonzalez last summer. According to court documents, Germain was allegedly recorded in a conversation with the undercover agent saying, "I drive by every once in a while, take a look, I won't even stop and get off." The affidavit in the case describes four $1,500 bribe payments that resulted in Germain signing inspection forms for four houses, even though he never set foot on two of the properties.
Both men are expected to make their first appearance in United States District court Friday afternoon on federal bribery charges.
The charge of bribery carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Akrotirianakis tells KNX 1070 Newsradio that if anyone was solicited for a bribe, they can send a message to the FBI at reportbribes@IC.FBI.GOV.
