{"id":42635,"date":"2021-05-05T21:42:56","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T04:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=42635"},"modified":"2021-05-05T21:42:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T04:42:56","slug":"ex-city-officials-sentenced-for-accepting-bribes-in-exchange-for-marijuana-dispensary-permit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=42635","title":{"rendered":"Ex-City Officials Sentenced for Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Marijuana Dispensary Permit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CALIFORNIA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Two California men were each sentenced Wednesday to two years in federal prison for accepting bribes in return for a guarantee of a city permit to open a commercial cannabis dispensary, officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the plea documents, former Calexico, California, City Councilman David Romero, 37, and Bruno Suarez-Soto, 29, a former commissioner on the city\u2019s Economic Development and Financial Advisory Commission, accepted $35,000 in cash bribes from an undercover FBI Agent who they believed represented investors seeking to open a cannabis dispensary in Calexico.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
ormer Calexico, California, City Councilman David Romero,<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In return, Romero and Soto guaranteed the rapid issuance of a city permit for the dispensary and to revoke or hinder other applicants, if necessary, to ensure that the bribe payer\u2019s application was successful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both men also acknowledged that they had taken bribes from others in the past. Referring to this $35,000 payment, one of them told the undercover agent, \u201cThis isn\u2019t our first rodeo.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to admissions in the plea agreements and other documents filed in court, Romero and Soto accepted the $35,000 from the undercover FBI agent in two installments. <\/span><\/p>\n

At the conclusion of a meeting between the defendants and the undercover FBI agent on Jan. 9, 2020, with Romero looking on, the undercover agent handed Soto $17,500 in cash. <\/span><\/p>\n

The agent asked whether \u201cwe\u2019re good,\u201d and Romero responded, \u201cTrust me.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

On Jan. 30, 2020, Romero and Soto accepted the second installment of $17,500 in cash.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to being a councilman, Romero served as Calexico\u2019s Mayor Pro Tem, meaning he was set to become Mayor in July 2020. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Soto recently resigned from the city commission responsible for promoting business and community growth and coordinating with prospective developers to help them invest in the city of Calexico. <\/span><\/p>\n

Romero resigned his position with the city in connection with his plea agreement, effective June 8, 2020.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the prison sentence, Romero and Soto were ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $17,500.<\/span><\/p>\n

DOJ NOTED:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department\u2019s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California; and Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner of the FBI\u2019s San Diego Field Office made the announcement.<\/span><\/p>\n

The FBI investigated the case.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trial Attorney Joshua Rothstein of the Criminal Division\u2019s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Pilchak of the Southern District of California prosecuted the case.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CALIFORNIA Two California men were each sentenced Wednesday to two years in federal prison for accepting bribes in return for a guarantee of a city permit to open a commercial cannabis dispensary,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5851,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-department-of-justice"],"yoast_head":"\nEx-City Officials Sentenced for Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Marijuana Dispensary Permit<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CALIFORNIA Two California men were each sentenced Wednesday to two years in federal prison for accepting bribes in return for a guarantee of a city permit\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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