DA Files Dozens Of New Charges In Noguez Corruption Case
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Tuesday announced the filings of 41 new charges in the embezzlement and bribery case involving County Assessor John Noguez.
KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports alleged criminal acts now date back to 1998 in the Assessor's office — which was before Noguez was elected.
DA Files Dozens Of New Charges In Noguez Corruption Case
Noguez, his chief appraiser and Arizona tax consultant Ramin Salari, and Mark McNeil, a principal assessor promoted by Noguez to head the Major Appraisal Division, all pleaded not guilty to charges contained in the amended complaint.
Deputy District Attorney Susan Schwartz explained how the number of charges more than doubled.
"We've added approximately 40 new charges to the complaint, and we have added allegations a loss that exceeds $8 million of revenues to the county," Schwartz said.
In addition to filing an amended complaint, prosecutors announced that they moved to seize more than $9 million in assets and property belonging to defendant Salari, 50, a tax consultant and campaign contributor to Noguez.
The amended complaint charges 48-year-old Noguez and McNeil, 55, with 11 new counts each of misappropriation of public funds.
Salari is charged with 41 new counts, including 11 of misappropriation of public funds, 16 of bribery, and seven counts each of embezzlement and grand theft.
The amended complaint alleges that Salari paid more than $175,000 in bribes to former county appraiser Scott Schenter between 2002 and 2007 to reduce the appraised values on Salari-represented properties.
Schenter, who worked from 1988 to early 2011 as a county appraiser, was charged last year in a separate complaint for allegedly slashing values on multi-million dollar homes, condos and businesses in Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades. He allegedly secured campaign contributions from the owners of those homes and businesses for Noguez.
The 41 new charges involve 18 properties that were assessed at lower property values throughout Los Angeles County, including Pasadena, Torrance and Van Nuys.
In court Tuesday, prosecutors asked Judge Shelly Torrealba to dismiss a total of five counts of misappropriation against all three defendants. Prosecutors determined after further investigation that the five counts did not involve a loss in taxpayer money.
Noguez is charged now with 30 felony counts, including four counts of accepting bribes; five counts of perjury; two counts of conspiracy; and 19 counts of misappropriation by a public officer. The complaint alleges the fraud and embezzlement exceeds $500,000. If convicted as charged, Noguez faces up to 38 years in state prison.
Salari is now charged with 59 felony counts, including 24 counts of bribing an executive officer; two counts of conspiracy; 19 counts of misappropriation; seven counts of embezzlement; and seven counts of grand theft. If convicted, he faces up to 60 years in state prison.
McNeil is charged with 20 felony counts, including one count of conspiracy and 19 counts of misappropriation by a public officer. If convicted, he faces up to 29 years in state prison.
Noguez is due back in court June 26 to set a date for a preliminary hearing.
