Jealous handyman, 58, who secretly bugged a gynaecologist’s car with a tracking device after she broke off their brief relationship admits stalking – and must now wear an electronic tag

• Kelvin James fitted a tracker to Dr Marie Gerval’s Renault Megane to stalk her
• Dr Gerval had asked James, 58, to carry out some work on her home’s guttering
• They embarked on a brief relationship which Dr Gerval ended in early 2022
• James, from Orrell, admitted stalking Dr Gerval at Wigan Magistrates’ Court

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Published: 09:37 GMT, 3 November 2022 | updated: 12:53 GMT, 8 November 2022

A leading gynaecologist’s car was secretly bugged by her jealous former handyman after he mounted a surveillance operation on her activities when she broke off their brief relationship.

Dr Marie Gerval, 52, drove her Renault Megane around the neighborhood unware 58-year-old tradesman Kelvin James had placed a tracker device on the engine to check if she was meeting up with other men.

Dr Gerval, who lives in London and treats women in specialist NHS menopause clinics, only found out she had been bugged after she was pulled over on suspicion of drink-driving when James tracked her to a local pub.

She passed a roadside breath test and when she asked why she had been stopped, police said an ‘anonymous caller’ had called them falsely claiming she was drunk behind the wheel.

Dr Marie Gerval, 52, began a brief relationship with her handyman Kelvin James who she had initially employed to inspect her guttering

Kelvin James, pictured outside Wigan Magistrates’ Court admitted stalking Dr Gerval by fitting a tracker to her Renault Megane car

The court heard James falsely reported Dr Gerval for drink-driving after she had met a friend at a bar near her home. After providing a negative roadside test, police told her they had pulled her over after receiving an ‘anonymous tip off’

Dr Gerval, pictured, said the stress of being stalked had given her alopecia

Suspicious the culprit was James as they were still meeting as friends, Dr Gerval confronted him and he admitted getting a local garage to install the tracker whilst he had borrowed it for an afternoon. She later said she was so distressed at being followed she suffered hair loss due to alopecia.

At Wigan Magistrates’ Court James from Orrell near Wigan who admitted stalking was ordered to wear an electronic tag to monitor his own movements under the terms of a 12-week curfew order from 7pm-7am.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a requirement he complete 13 rehabilitation activity days and was banned from contacting Dr Gerval for 12 months under the terms of a restraining order.

Steve Woodman, prosecuting, said: ‘Dr Gerval first met Mr James back in April 2020. She needed some work doing to the guttering and so looked for a tradesman through a directory app. She found James on the app and he carried out the work for her,

‘During this period they formed a relationship which developed into a romantic involvement, albeit for a short time. It lasted from about late 2020 to early 2021.

‘After their relationship ended, they maintained a distant friendship via text in the months after. In the summer of 2021, Gerval noticed that James was suffering with his mental health. Being a health professional and a friend she reached out to James and agreed to meet him.’

The court heard James borrowed Dr Gerval’s Renault Megane and returned it having fitted a tracker. After she received the car, Dr Gerval received a series of jealous texts from the handyman when she rebuffed his attempts to resume their relationship.

James from Orrell near Wigan who admitted stalking was ordered to wear an electronic tag to monitor his own movements under the terms of a 12-week curfew order from 7pm-7am

James, pictured, was also sentenced to a 12-month community order with a requirement he complete 13 rehabilitation activity days and was banned from contacting Dr Gerval for 12 months under the terms of a restraining order

On November 16, Dr Gerval went to meet a friend at the Britannia pub in the Upholland area of ​​Lancashire. After leaving the pub she was pulled over by police on suspicion of drink-driving. She passed the breath test and was told they had received an ‘anonymous tip’ that she had been drunk.

James later admitted to fitting the tracker which would update him on Dr Gerval’s whereabouts.

The court heard James had a previous conviction for harassment from 1998.

In sentencing, chairman of the magistrate Jean Hamilton said: ‘Although this has clearly caused the complainant serious stress and harm it was a relatively isolated incident.’

James was also made to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £95. Magistrates rejected Gerval’s demand for compensation for alopecia care costs saying: ‘This is an issue better suited to the civil courts.’

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Jealous handyman, 58, who secretly bugged a gynaecologist’s car with a tracking device after she broke off their brief relationship admits stalking – and must now wear an electronic tag

• Kelvin James fitted a tracker to Dr Marie Gerval’s Renault Megane to stalk her
• Dr Gerval had asked James, 58, to carry out some work on her home’s guttering
• They embarked on a brief relationship which Dr Gerval ended in early 2022
• James, from Orrell, admitted stalking Dr Gerval at Wigan Magistrates’ Court

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Published: 09:37 GMT, 3 November 2022 | updated: 12:53 GMT, 8 November 2022

A leading gynaecologist’s car was secretly bugged by her jealous former handyman after he mounted a surveillance operation on her activities when she broke off their brief relationship.

Dr Marie Gerval, 52, drove her Renault Megane around the neighborhood unware 58-year-old tradesman Kelvin James had placed a tracker device on the engine to check if she was meeting up with other men.

Dr Gerval, who lives in London and treats women in specialist NHS menopause clinics, only found out she had been bugged after she was pulled over on suspicion of drink-driving when James tracked her to a local pub.

She passed a roadside breath test and when she asked why she had been stopped, police said an ‘anonymous caller’ had called them falsely claiming she was drunk behind the wheel.

Dr Marie Gerval, 52, began a brief relationship with her handyman Kelvin James who she had initially employed to inspect her guttering

Kelvin James, pictured outside Wigan Magistrates’ Court admitted stalking Dr Gerval by fitting a tracker to her Renault Megane car

The court heard James falsely reported Dr Gerval for drink-driving after she had met a friend at a bar near her home. After providing a negative roadside test, police told her they had pulled her over after receiving an ‘anonymous tip off’

Dr Gerval, pictured, said the stress of being stalked had given her alopecia

Suspicious the culprit was James as they were still meeting as friends, Dr Gerval confronted him and he admitted getting a local garage to install the tracker whilst he had borrowed it for an afternoon. She later said she was so distressed at being followed she suffered hair loss due to alopecia.

At Wigan Magistrates’ Court James from Orrell near Wigan who admitted stalking was ordered to wear an electronic tag to monitor his own movements under the terms of a 12-week curfew order from 7pm-7am.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a requirement he complete 13 rehabilitation activity days and was banned from contacting Dr Gerval for 12 months under the terms of a restraining order.

Steve Woodman, prosecuting, said: ‘Dr Gerval first met Mr James back in April 2020. She needed some work doing to the guttering and so looked for a tradesman through a directory app. She found James on the app and he carried out the work for her,

‘During this period they formed a relationship which developed into a romantic involvement, albeit for a short time. It lasted from about late 2020 to early 2021.

‘After their relationship ended, they maintained a distant friendship via text in the months after. In the summer of 2021, Gerval noticed that James was suffering with his mental health. Being a health professional and a friend she reached out to James and agreed to meet him.’

The court heard James borrowed Dr Gerval’s Renault Megane and returned it having fitted a tracker. After she received the car, Dr Gerval received a series of jealous texts from the handyman when she rebuffed his attempts to resume their relationship.

James from Orrell near Wigan who admitted stalking was ordered to wear an electronic tag to monitor his own movements under the terms of a 12-week curfew order from 7pm-7am

James, pictured, was also sentenced to a 12-month community order with a requirement he complete 13 rehabilitation activity days and was banned from contacting Dr Gerval for 12 months under the terms of a restraining order

On November 16, Dr Gerval went to meet a friend at the Britannia pub in the Upholland area of ​​Lancashire. After leaving the pub she was pulled over by police on suspicion of drink-driving. She passed the breath test and was told they had received an ‘anonymous tip’ that she had been drunk.

James later admitted to fitting the tracker which would update him on Dr Gerval’s whereabouts.

The court heard James had a previous conviction for harassment from 1998.

In sentencing, chairman of the magistrate Jean Hamilton said: ‘Although this has clearly caused the complainant serious stress and harm it was a relatively isolated incident.’

James was also made to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £95. Magistrates rejected Gerval’s demand for compensation for alopecia care costs saying: ‘This is an issue better suited to the civil courts.’

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A handyman who allegedly stabbed and then cut the throat of a Queens mom, stuffed her body in a hockey duffel bag and then dumped it in a nearby park earlier last year has admitted to the gruesome killing.

David Bonola44, entered a guilty plea for manslaughter in the April slaying of Orsolya Gaalwhose body was found dumped in a sports bag near Forest Park, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Bonola is expected to be sentenced to 25 years in prison, plus an additional five years of probation. As part of his please dealprosecutors agreed to drop the murder charge he’d been facing in the case, according to New York ABC affiliate WABC-TV.

“This heinous killing devastated an entire family, left two boys without a mother and horrified the surrounding community,” Queens District Attorney Melina Katz stated in a press release. “I want to thank my prosecutors for their exhaustive efforts in securing this plea.”

David Bonola a suspect in the gruesome multi stabbing murder of Orsolya Gaal,

David Bonola, 44, a suspect in the gruesome multi stabbing murder of 51yr old Orsolya Gaal, is taken from the NYPD 112th Precinct Station House on Austin Street in Queens on Thursday April 21, 2022. Photo: Getty Images

“In pleading guilty, the defendant has accepted responsibility and is being held fully accountable for his criminal actions,” Katz added We express our sincerest condolences to the victim’s family and hope that today’s plea will allow them to begin to heal.”

On April 16, a man walking his dogs by Forest Park found a “suspicious bag with blood on it,” the New York City Police Department told Oxygen.com at the time. Gaal’s body was found inside, dead of a slashed throat. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that Gaal died from sharp force injuries to her neck.

RELATED: DNA Ties California Man To 2011 Killings Of Teen And Woman Whose Bodies Were Dumped By LA Freeways

Chilling surveillance footage from a nearby home had captured Gaal’s suspected killer — later identified as Bonola — “wheeling” a hockey duffel bag down a sidewalk near Gaal’s home around dawn. Prosecutors said the bag belonged to Gaal’s son.

Story continues

Investigators found Gaal’s home by tracing a trail of blood from the bag in Forest Park back to her residence.

A personal photo of Orsolya Gaal

Orsolya Gaal Photo: Facebook

Investigators later determined that Bonola had attacked Gaal at her home after the Queens mother returned from an outing shortly after midnight on April 16.

The pair, who had an on-and-off again sexual relationship, argued outside before going into the home’s basement prosecutors said Bonola then stabbed Gaal 55 times.

One of Gaal’s sons was inside the home at the time she was killed, but her husband and the couple’s other son were away at the time of the incident.

Bonola was arrested, but initially pleaded not guilty to a 13-count indictment following his arrest. According to authorities, Bonola had previously been employed to perform handy work at Gaal’s home.

Oxy app

Gaal’s family said she’ll be remembered as a loving and devoted mother who put her children first.

“She had a passion for making her kids happy,” Gaal’s teenage son Jamie said at a memorial for the slain Queens woman. “Right now that’s what’s important to remember.”

Bonola is set to be sentenced on Nov. 16.

The post NYC Handyman Admits To Dismembering Queens Mother, Dumping Her In Park appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

David Bonola, 44, has pleaded guilty to killing Orsolya Gaal (Facebook)

Handyman David Bonola has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Queens mother Orsolya Gaal.

Gaal’s body was discovered stuffed in a hockey bag in Forest Park in the borough of Queens, New York City

The married mother of two, 51, had been stabbed nearly 60 times in her home and her body was dragged half a mile away and dumped near to a popular walking path on Metropolitan Avenue in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police followed a trail of blood from the bag that led them about half a mile to an upscale gated community in Forest Hills.

On Wednesday, Bonola appeared in court

Developing more to come

The post Handyman admits stabbing former lover Orsolya Gaal 58 instances and stuffing her physique in a hockey bag appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO – Former San Francisco City Hall public official Mohammed Nuru agreed in a plea agreement filed today to plead guilty to honest services wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair, and Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson.  

Today’s development follows the January 15, 2020, 79-page federal complaint filed against then San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Mohammed Nuru charging him with public corruption and describing a long-running scheme involving multiple bribes and kickbacks during his tenure as DPW’s Director.  Nuru, 59, of San Francisco, served as DPW’s Director from 2011 until charges were brought against him in 2020.  Nuru was also charged in a second federal complaint filed on January 28, 2020, with lying to a federal agent in the course of the San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.  Today, in anticipation of entering his plea agreement resolving his cases, Nuru was arraigned today on an information – a charging document – that charges him with his sweeping scheme to defraud the San Francisco public of its right to his honest services in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346.

“Mohammed Nuru admits to a staggering amount of public corruption in his plea agreement,” said Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds.  “For years, Nuru held a powerful and well-paid public leadership position at San Francisco City Hall, but instead of serving the public, Nuru served himself.  He took continuous bribes from the contractors, developers, and entities he regulated.  He now faces a prison sentence for enriching himself at the expense of the public as he sat in high office.  Federal authorities will investigate public corruption wherever it leads in San Francisco and throughout the district.”  

“Today’s announcement, while significant, is by no means the end of the FBI’s investigation into the corrupt conduct we have uncovered in San Francisco city government,”  said FBI Special Agent in Charge D. Fair.  “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to personally benefit by corrupting the fair administration of public business and we will persist in our commitment to protect the integrity of the institutions that serve the people of San Francisco.”

“Our communities place great trust and responsibility in our public figures.  Mohammed Nuru ultimately betrayed this trust when he abused his power to defraud the City and County of San Francisco and its people,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson.  “We will not tolerate public corruption and will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.  Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners towards obtaining justice.”

Nuru signed today’s plea agreement and the agreement has been filed with the United States District Court in preparation for Nuru’s upcoming appearance to enter his guilty plea orally.  As the plea agreement outlines, before Nuru was appointed Director of DPW in 2011 he became DPW’s Deputy Director of Operations in 2000.  The Deputy Director of Operations is DPW’s second most senior position, behind only the Director.  In 2014, Nuru was also appointed to the Board of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) and eventually served as its Chair.  As Deputy Director and eventually Director of DPW, and as Chair of the TJPA, Nuru exercised great influence over San Francisco (the City) business and policy, including public contracts, permits, and construction projects.  His power and influence extended beyond DPW’s jurisdiction to numerous other City departments and agencies, making him one of the most powerful public officials in the City.

Nuru admits in his plea agreement to a spectrum of public corruption involving bribery and kickbacks he received while in DPW leadership.  His admissions are summarized below:

Walter Wong:

In his plea agreement, Nuru admits he received a stream of bribes from Walter Wong.  Wong did business in the City through Walter Wong Construction, among other businesses. In exchange for Wong’s bribes, Nuru helped Wong secure City contracts.  Sometimes Nuru provided Wong with confidential insider City information on competitors’ bids or specifications.  At other times Nuru allowed Wong to structure the requirements for the City’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects ahead of time, to tailor their requirements to ensure that Wong’s company would be the most-qualified bidder.  Nuru also helped Wong expedite permit approvals.

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that his “corrupt relationship” with Wong began in approximately 2008 when Nuru was the Deputy Director for Operations at DPW.  Wong installed a gate for free at Nuru’s San Francisco home in exchange for future business with DPW and the City. Wong continued to perform construction services for free, or nearly free, at Nuru’s San Francisco home and later primarily at Nuru’s vacation ranch property in Colusa County. 

Nuru admits that, in exchange for Wong providing construction and other things of value, he exercised his official influence and took actions to benefit Wong.  In one example outlined in the plea agreement, Nuru used DPW’s emergency contract process, which did not require a public bidding process, to direct construction work to Walter Wong Construction on a navigation center located at 1515 South Van Ness Street and on the Jelani House (a housing shelter), resulting in City payments to Wong’s company during fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2019-2020.  In another example, Nuru used his position and official influence to direct DPW, the Market Street Association, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to purchase Christmas lights from one of Wong’s businesses, regularly leading to tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of purchases.

Nuru further admits in his plea agreement that:

 o between approximately 2008 and January 2020, Wong provided in excess of $260,000 in labor and materials for work on Nuru’s San Francisco home and Colusa County ranch.
 o Wong paid for home furnishings for Nuru, including a chandelier, kitchen appliances, and furniture.
 o Wong paid for Nuru to travel to China multiple times and to South America on one occasion, which included reimbursing Nuru in cash for the cost of international flights.  Wong paid for Nuru and Sandra Zuniga, his girlfriend at the time, to accompany Nuru to South America and paid for their stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Santiago, Chile. 
 o On multiple occasions, Wong handed Nuru envelopes of cash, often as much as $5,000 at a time. 

Walter Wong was charged in June 2020 with conspiracy to defraud the public of its right to honest services and with conspiracy to engage in money laundering, both involving Nuru.  Wong entered a guilty plea and agreed to cooperate with the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Multimillion-Dollar Mixed-Use Development:

Nuru admits he received free travel, gifts, and benefits, for working with Walter Wong to use Nuru’s official position to benefit a billionaire developer from China, referred to as DEVELOPER 1 in the plea agreement, who was developing a large multimillion-dollar mixed use project in San Francisco.  Wong, who worked as a consultant for DEVELOPER 1 on several of his large developments in the City, introduced Nuru to DEVELOPER 1.  Nuru met with Wong, another Department of Building Inspection official, DEVELOPER 1, and others over dinner on multiple occasions and discussed DEVELOPER 1’s projects.  Nuru never paid for the dinners.  Nuru admits that he also met with DEVELOPER 1 multiple times in China.  According to Nuru, DEVELOPER 1 owned multiple hotels in China, including five-star hotels.  Nuru received gifts from him, including free hotel stays. 

Nuru admits that, in exchange, he used his official position and influence to help DEVELOPER 1 obtain necessary approvals for his large, multimillion-dollar mixed-use project.  Nuru admits, among other things, that he told Sandra Zuniga that DEVELOPER 1 was upset because he had spent large amounts of money and had provided “a whole list of things” that Nuru said “we need to get done[.]”  Nuru admits that whenever DEVELOPER 1 or one of his employees notified him of an issue, Nuru directed one of his DPW managers to solve the problem and expedite the process.  Nuru also used his official influence with other City officials to solve problems encountered by DEVELOPER 1 that fell within the other City officials’ area of responsibility.

Recology:

Recology Inc. is a waste management company headquartered in San Francisco and the parent company of Sunset Scavenger Company, Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Company, and Recology San Francisco (referred to as the “SF Recology Group” and, collectively with Recology Inc., as “Recology”).  Recology Inc. provided refuse collection and disposal services for residential and commercial customers in the City, as well as for the City itself, through the SF Recology Group.

As Director of DPW, Nuru presided over the process governing the rates Recology could charge in San Francisco.  Nuru recommended to the Rate Board whether to approve any rate increase for Recology.  Nuru also influenced “tipping fee” rates that Recology charged DPW when DPW dumped materials at a Recology facility, Sustainable Crushing.  Nuru could approve, deny, or affect operational changes that Recology wanted to make in San Francisco which, Nuru admits in his plea agreement, gave him the ability in his official capacity to affect Recology’s business. 

Nuru admits he accepted numerous valuable items from Recology and used his official position to help Recology’s business.  Among other things, Recology paid for soil to be delivered to Nuru’s ranch property in Colusa County, for expensive meals for Nuru, and for a two-night trip to New York on the City’s business in December 2017. 

Nuru admits that he also requested Recology to pay, and Recology did pay, hundreds of thousands of dollars to a San Francisco non-profit (Non-Profit A) in the form of donations for a cleaning program known as Giant Sweep.  Non-Profit A would then donate the payments to another non-profit that administered funds for the Giant Sweep program.  Nuru admitted he could then access the funds for a variety of other uses—including procuring goods and services for staff meals and appreciation events, volunteer programs, merchandise, community support, and events from specific vendors—in addition to their originally designated purpose for Giant Sweep.  From 2014 through the end of 2019, Recology donated approximately $150,000 per year for Giant Sweep, in $30,000 installments—for a total of approximately $750,000.

Nuru also admits he requested Recology hire his son.  Recology hired him and paid him, between 2015 and 2017, approximately $17,000.  Recology also funded a paid internship for Nuru’s son at a different non-profit organization and, between 2017 and 2018, paid approximately $23,600 to fund the paid internship.

Nuru admits he requested that Recology fund his DPW holiday parties.  Between 2016 and 2019, Recology paid approximately $60,000 for that purpose.  Recology made the payments through the Lefty O’Doul’s Foundation, a non-profit organization run by Nick Bovis. 

Two former Recology executives, Paul F. Giusti and John F. Porter, have been charged in this investigation.  Giusti was charged in November 2020, and Porter was charged in April 2021.  Both men were charged with bribery of Nuru and money laundering involving Nuru.  Giusti pleaded guilty in August 2021 to engaging in a conspiracy to bribe Nuru and is cooperating with the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.  Porter’s charges remain pending.

The three subsidiaries of Recology, Inc. now have new leadership and have implemented enhanced corporate compliance programs to end any corrupt practices.  Recology resolved corporate charges brought against them through a deferred prosecution agreement with the government.  Pursuant to the agreement, the companies paid a $36 million fine, agreed to implement enhanced corporate compliance programs, and agreed to fully cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Nick Bovis:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that he received multiple bribes from restaurateur Nick Bovis.  The bribes were in exchange for Nuru using his official acts and influence to assist, or to promise to assist, in public business opportunities with the City.  The bribes included free meals and entertainment for Nuru, his family, and associates at restaurants owned by Bovis and thousands of dollars in free appliances for Nuru’s ranch property.  Nuru also anticipated and expected tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from proceeds that Bovis would earn from the City concessions or contracts awarded due to Nuru’s official acts or influence to assist Bovis.

In one plea agreement example, Nuru admits he helped Bovis in a plan to win a bid for a restaurant lease at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).  Bovis expected to make money from the SFO concession, and Nuru expected Bovis would continue to provide bribes in exchange for Nuru’s help with the airport concession process and other public contracts.

In another example, Nuru admits he gave Bovis a price list of appliances that Nuru wanted for his ranch in or about 2018, a time when Bovis was seeking Nuru’s assistance with the SFO concession and other City business opportunities.  Bovis purchased the appliances and brought them to Nuru’s ranch.  Nuru accepted them as an exchange for his continued official acts and influence to help Bovis, and he did not pay for them.  The appliances were worth approximately $22,000.

Nick Bovis pleaded guilty in May 2020 to wire fraud and honest services wire fraud involving Nuru and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation. 

Florence Kong:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that he accepted a gold Rolex watch from Bay Area businesswoman Florence Kong.  The watch was valued at approximately $36,550.  Nuru admits he used his official position to benefit Kong’s businesses and did so in exchange for the Rolex and for cash, free meals, and other items of value provided by Kong, including an iron fence that Kong installed at Nuru’s ranch.  In one example, Nuru states that he used his official position to direct business to SFR Recovery Inc., a recycling business that Kong owned. 

Florence Kong was charged and pleaded guilty to bribery of Nuru and to making false statements to FBI agents during the investigation.  She was sentenced in February 2021 to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay a $95,000 fine.

Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, & Alan Varela:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that between 2013 and January 2020 he accepted a series of bribes and kickbacks from Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, and Alan Varela in exchange for past and future official actions benefitting their City business ventures.  Nuru received free meals and entertainment, cash, and free labor and materials for his ranch – including a brand new tractor.  Nuru also expected to receive a portion of the proceeds  from anticipated City contracts awarded to them or their associates as a result of Nuru’s official acts or influence on their behalf.

In one example, Nuru admitted he helped Varela and Gilmartin’s joint venture win a DPW supply contract and a related lease with the Port of San Francisco (the “Port”) to operate an asphalt recycling plant and a concrete plant on the Port’s land.  In the early stages, Nuru helped the group prepare their proposal by providing them inside non-public information on the project.  The non-public information was delivered to Hernandez through emails or phone calls or through regular dinning meetings in San Mateo with Gilmartin and Hernandez.  Gilmartin paid approximately $20,000 for the dinners, with the parties agreeing that Nuru’s dinners were worth approximately $7,000.

Nuru admits that Gilmartin promised him $100,000 for his official assistance to pressure a large developer to select one of Gilmartin and Varela’s joint-venture partners for a large project in San Francisco.  The large developer complied with Nuru’s request because, as Nuru admits, the large developer needed DPW approvals for the project and for other large developments in the City.

Nuru admits that he received approximately $25,000 in cash from Hernandez and received approximately $250,000 in free labor and materials from Hernandez at Nuru’s ranch. 

Nuru also requested the group give him a tractor.  In February 2019, Alan Varela delivered a new tractor to the Nuru’s ranch, a benefit valued at approximately $20,000.

Balmore Hernandez was also charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud in October 2020 and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation. 

William Gilmartin was charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud in May 2021 and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.
Alan Varela was charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and was sentenced in September 2021 to two years in prison and ordered to pay a $127,000 fine. 

Sandra Zuniga Money Laundering:

Nuru admits that in or about 2010 he bought a 10-acre lot in Colusa County and developed it into his vacation ranch with free labor and materials provided by City contractors seeking favors from him. Nuru admits he also used the proceeds of his crimes to pay the mortgage.  To conceal and launder the source of the proceeds, Nuru states he funneled the money through Sandra Zuniga who made the monthly $1,000 mortgage payments out of her checking account. Nuru admits that from 2014 through August 2017, he typically gave Zuniga approximately $1,000 per month, generally in cash, and she deposited the money into her bank account.  She then made the $1,000 payment towards the mortgage.  In this way, Zuniga paid at least $42,000 of the mortgage.

Zuniga was charged and pleaded guilty in March 2021 to engaging in a conspiracy to launder money with Nuru.  She agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Other Bribes:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that around 2018 he accepted a bribe of $20,000 in cash from a former government employee in exchange for Nuru using his position to help a particular person obtain an engineering job with the City. Nuru received the cash in three installments of $10,000, $5,000, and $5,000.  Ultimately, the individual failed to maintain employment with the City.

Nuru also admits he accepted cash bribes from a prominent developer in San Francisco.  The cash bribes usually consisted of a few thousand dollars.  The developer would later call Nuru when he had any problems with DPW-related approvals or other matters that Nuru could help resolve. 

In his plea agreement, Nuru admits guilt and agrees to plead guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346.  If convicted of the count, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or not more than the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss of the crime. 

The government indicates in the plea agreement its intent to ask for up to a 108 month (9 year) sentence for Nuru.  However, any sentence imposed by the court will follow only after the court’s consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Today, in a procedural step towards orally entering his guilty plea, Nuru was arraigned and pleaded not guilty before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero to an information charging him with a count of honest services wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346. 

Nuru’s next appearance is currently set before United States District Judge Susan Illston on January 14, 2022, at which he is currently scheduled to formally enter his guilty plea pursuant to his plea agreement.  Nuru remains out of custody on bond.
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This case is part of a larger federal investigation targeting public corruption in the City and County of San Francisco.  To date, 12 individuals and three corporate entities have been charged, including two high-ranking San Francisco public officials, Nuru and Harlan Kelly.  Multiple city contractors and facilitators have been charged.  Allegations in the complaint filed against Harlan Kelly assert that he received thousands of dollars in airfare, meals, jewelry, and travel expenses, along with repair work on his house.   

The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  The case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation. 

The post Former San Francisco Public Works Director Admits To String Of Briberies And Corruption Throughout Years In Workplace | USAO-NDCA appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

San Francisco 49ers admit Jimmy Garoppolo trade talks taking place. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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A Jimmy Garoppolo trade from the San Francisco 49ers can’t be made official until the new NFL league year opens up in roughly two weeks. In no way does this mean a trade won’t be agreed to here within the next few days.

49ers general manager John Lynch spoke to the media on Wednesday from the site of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

In doing so, the front office head told reporters that San Francisco has had discussions with other teams regarding a Garoppolo trade and plans to continue these talks as a free agency opens here soon.

The expectation has always been that San Francisco’s brass and Garoppolo will work together to find the 30-year-old signal caller a new home. Garoppolo touched on that immediately after the 49ers blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams back in January.

“I was talking to John (Lynch) yesterday about finding the right destination. I just want to go to a place where they want to win,” Garoppolo told reporters back on February 1.

MORE FROM FORBESWhy Stephen Gilmore Makes Perfect Sense For The San Francisco 49ersby Vincent Frank

Jimmy Garoppolo Shoulder Surgery And Impact On Potential Trade

There’s another pretty big backdrop to all of this. It was noted earlier in the week that Garoppolo is set to undergo surgery on his throwing shoulder and could miss up to 16 weeks. While this timeline would still make him available for some of training camp and the preseason, it complicates things further.

Lynch touched on that bit of breaking news, indicating that “it is described as a minor surgery” and “the prognosis is really good.”

Amid reports of Garoppolo needing surgery, ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that there’s still multiple teams interested in the quarterback’s services. How said surgery might impact his trade value remains to be seen.

Common logic seems to suggest that the 49ers can get a haul similar to what the New York Jets received from the Carolina Panthers for Sam Darnold last offseason. New York acquired a sixth-round pick in 2021 as well as second and fourth-round selections in 2022.

When looking at the statistical differences between these two quarterbacks (past two seasons), it’s easy to conclude Garoppolo has performed better.

Sam Darnold: 60% completion, 4,735 yards, 18 touchdowns, 24 interceptions, 72.3 rating (6-17 record)

Jimmy Garoppolo: 68% completion, 4,906 yards, 27 TD, 17 INT, 97.2 rating (12-9 record)

Jimmy Garoppolo trade market

San Francisco 49ers could move Jimmy Garoppolo to the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Daniel … [+] Shirey/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Looking at it through the lens of quarterback-needy teams, there’s as many as 10 who could be in the market for a new quarterback. Among them, Garoppolo has been linked primarily to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Commanders.

Pittsburgh saw longtime starter and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger retire following the 2021 season. Meanwhile, Washington started three quarterbacks under center last season.

As for the Colts, they are preparing to move off Carson Wentz after just one season. That will likely come via trade or release ahead of the new league year. It’s an open question whether general manager Chris Ballard would view Garoppolo as an upgrade over Wentz.

Other teams that could show some interest in Garoppolo this month include the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers.

San Francisco 49ers sing Trey Lance’s praise

Trey Lance is the future of the QB position for the San Francisco 49ers. (AP Photo/John Hefti)

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When San Francisco traded up to the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to select Lance, there was some who believed that Garoppolo would be moved immediately.

That was never the plan behind the scenes. A small-school product from North Dakota State, Lance wasn’t ready to take over under center. While he displayed flashes in limited time as a rookie, growing pains were the name of the game.

Now, entering his first full offseason as a member of the 49ers, it’s time for Lance to prove that he can be handed the keys to the kingdom. Hence, why Garoppolo will likely be traded here soon.

In talking about his young quarterback on Wednesday, Lynch sounded an optimistic tone.

MORE FROM FORBESThe Finances Of A Potential Jimmy Garoppolo Trade From The San Francisco 49ersby Vincent Frank

“He’s everything we thought he was when we traded a lot to go get him and more. I really believe that. There’s a tone of excitement. Of course, there’s some unknown. There always is in this game,” San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch on Trey Lance, via NFL Network. “Trey’s made of the right stuff. Both talent wise and in his spirit of who he is, the intangibles. Guys like playing for him. Guys like being around him. We’re certainly excited to see what he can do.”

We wouldn’t expect anything different from Lynch given that San Francisco used three first-round picks and a mid-round selection for Lance. That’s especially true with Garoppolo firmly on the trade block. In reality, it’s a PR game to help hype up the youngster while attempting to create more leverage in Garoppolo trade talks.

For now, we wait and see what is going to happen with Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers. Talks will undoubtedly continue with general managers meeting up in Indianapolis during the combine this week. Perhaps something gets done in short order.

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After three of the cities seven school board members were recalled in San Francisco last week—the only member that were eligible for recall—Mayor London Breed said “we failed our children.” Breed made these comments on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

“Parents were upset. The city as a whole was upset, and the decision to recall school board members was a result of that,” Breed told NBC’s Chuck Todd. The recall was led by community members who were frustrated that the school board spent more time and effort trying to rename several local schools than to get schools open.

The school board was attempting to change the schools’ names due to the “racist” nature of the schools’ namesakes, such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and service US Senator Dianne Feinstein. Parents brought suit as the board pursued these changes. The plan was later reversed amid the backlash.

Educating children, Breed said, shouldn’t be a partisan issue. “And so in this particular case, the board neglected their primary responsibility to focus on other things, other things that are important, but not as significant as what they were there to do and this is to educate children.

The recall was supported by more than 70 percent of voters and those votes were bolstered by Chinese American San Franciscans, who were opposed to the school board’s attempt to reduce admissions standards for the specialized Lowell High School for academically gifted and driven students. The school has a high Asian American population.

“And so in this particular case, the board neglected their primary responsibility to focus on other things, other things that are important, but not as significant as what they were there to do and that is to educate children,” Breed said.

“My take is that it was really about the frustration of the board of education doing their fundamental job,” Breed went on to say. “And that is to make sure that our children are getting educated, that they get back into the classroom. And that did not occur. They were focusing on other things that were clearly a distraction.”

In response to the recall efforts that cost them their posts on the school board, the ousted school board president blamed “white supremacists” for the recall. “So if you fight for racial justice, this is the consequence. Don’t be mistaken, white supremacists are enjoying this. And the support of the recall is aligned with this.” Gabriela Lopez said on Twitter.

So if you fight for racial justice, this is the consequence. Don’t be mistaken, white supremacists are enjoying this. And the support of the recall is aligned with this. pic.twitter.com/HsYtQjvVeh

— Commissioner Gabriela Lopez ?? (@lopez4schools) February 17, 2022

Lopez, the youngest person ever elected to serve as School Board President, called the recall “an extreme waste of time, energy and money on a useless/selfish election.” Following the recall, Lopez intends to attend a PhD program at Stanford in Race, Inequality and Language Education.

Alison Collins, who was also forced out, continued to blast her progressive messaging via Twitter after the recall.

Definitely happening in SF. On the chopping block: desegregating Lowell, equity audit (recallers are suing the district w/ a Trump lawyer), Black Studies, and other resolutions focused on closing opportunity gaps for Native American, Samoan Pacific Islander and Latinx students. https://t.co/qqFfUEEi1I

— Alison Collins ??? (@AliMCollins) February 21, 2022

And she shared a tweet opposing reopening due to fears over Covid, which has been particularly less harmful to children than vulnerable adults.

idk, Have always personally appreciated your emphasis on *safe* reopening.

That was the debate around going remote first, then around adequate PPE, vaccines, masks, testing, and ventilation/HVAC/windows: between safe and unsafe reopening.

And Omicron really vindicated caution. pic.twitter.com/IcEqZOkufO

— human Rorschach test (@saintlennybruce) February 20, 2022

After the recall, Breed issued a statement, saying that “The voters of this city have delivered a clear message that the school board must focus on the essentials of delivering a well-run school system above all else.” Breed had previously slammed the school board for being too concerned with “political agendas.”

“San Francisco is a city that believes in the value of big ideas,” she said, “but those ideas must be built on the foundation of a government that does essentials well.” Breed is tasked with appointing replacements for Alison Collins, Gabriela Lopez and Faauuga Moliga, who will serve until a November election gives San Franciscans a new opportunity to choose school board members.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Former San Francisco City Hall public official Mohammed Nuru agreed in a plea agreement filed today to plead guilty to honest services wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair, and Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson.  

Today’s development follows the January 15, 2020, 79-page federal complaint filed against then San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Mohammed Nuru charging him with public corruption and describing a long-running scheme involving multiple bribes and kickbacks during his tenure as DPW’s Director.  Nuru, 59, of San Francisco, served as DPW’s Director from 2011 until charges were brought against him in 2020.  Nuru was also charged in a second federal complaint filed on January 28, 2020, with lying to a federal agent in the course of the San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.  Today, in anticipation of entering his plea agreement resolving his cases, Nuru was arraigned today on an information – a charging document – that charges him with his sweeping scheme to defraud the San Francisco public of its right to his honest services in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346.

“Mohammed Nuru admits to a staggering amount of public corruption in his plea agreement,” said Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds.  “For years, Nuru held a powerful and well-paid public leadership position at San Francisco City Hall, but instead of serving the public, Nuru served himself.  He took continuous bribes from the contractors, developers, and entities he regulated.  He now faces a prison sentence for enriching himself at the expense of the public as he sat in high office.  Federal authorities will investigate public corruption wherever it leads in San Francisco and throughout the district.”  

“Today’s announcement, while significant, is by no means the end of the FBI’s investigation into the corrupt conduct we have uncovered in San Francisco city government,”  said FBI Special Agent in Charge D. Fair.  “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to personally benefit by corrupting the fair administration of public business and we will persist in our commitment to protect the integrity of the institutions that serve the people of San Francisco.”

“Our communities place great trust and responsibility in our public figures.  Mohammed Nuru ultimately betrayed this trust when he abused his power to defraud the City and County of San Francisco and its people,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson.  “We will not tolerate public corruption and will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.  Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners towards obtaining justice.”

Nuru signed today’s plea agreement and the agreement has been filed with the United States District Court in preparation for Nuru’s upcoming appearance to enter his guilty plea orally.  As the plea agreement outlines, before Nuru was appointed Director of DPW in 2011 he became DPW’s Deputy Director of Operations in 2000.  The Deputy Director of Operations is DPW’s second most senior position, behind only the Director.  In 2014, Nuru was also appointed to the Board of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) and eventually served as its Chair.  As Deputy Director and eventually Director of DPW, and as Chair of the TJPA, Nuru exercised great influence over San Francisco (the City) business and policy, including public contracts, permits, and construction projects.  His power and influence extended beyond DPW’s jurisdiction to numerous other City departments and agencies, making him one of the most powerful public officials in the City.

Nuru admits in his plea agreement to a spectrum of public corruption involving bribery and kickbacks he received while in DPW leadership.  His admissions are summarized below:

Walter Wong:

In his plea agreement, Nuru admits he received a stream of bribes from Walter Wong.  Wong did business in the City through Walter Wong Construction, among other businesses. In exchange for Wong’s bribes, Nuru helped Wong secure City contracts.  Sometimes Nuru provided Wong with confidential insider City information on competitors’ bids or specifications.  At other times Nuru allowed Wong to structure the requirements for the City’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects ahead of time, to tailor their requirements to ensure that Wong’s company would be the most-qualified bidder.  Nuru also helped Wong expedite permit approvals.

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that his “corrupt relationship” with Wong began in approximately 2008 when Nuru was the Deputy Director for Operations at DPW.  Wong installed a gate for free at Nuru’s San Francisco home in exchange for future business with DPW and the City. Wong continued to perform construction services for free, or nearly free, at Nuru’s San Francisco home and later primarily at Nuru’s vacation ranch property in Colusa County. 

Nuru admits that, in exchange for Wong providing construction and other things of value, he exercised his official influence and took actions to benefit Wong.  In one example outlined in the plea agreement, Nuru used DPW’s emergency contract process, which did not require a public bidding process, to direct construction work to Walter Wong Construction on a navigation center located at 1515 South Van Ness Street and on the Jelani House (a housing shelter), resulting in City payments to Wong’s company during fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2019-2020.  In another example, Nuru used his position and official influence to direct DPW, the Market Street Association, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to purchase Christmas lights from one of Wong’s businesses, regularly leading to tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of purchases.

Nuru further admits in his plea agreement that:

 o between approximately 2008 and January 2020, Wong provided in excess of $260,000 in labor and materials for work on Nuru’s San Francisco home and Colusa County ranch.
 o Wong paid for home furnishings for Nuru, including a chandelier, kitchen appliances, and furniture.
 o Wong paid for Nuru to travel to China multiple times and to South America on one occasion, which included reimbursing Nuru in cash for the cost of international flights.  Wong paid for Nuru and Sandra Zuniga, his girlfriend at the time, to accompany Nuru to South America and paid for their stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Santiago, Chile. 
 o On multiple occasions, Wong handed Nuru envelopes of cash, often as much as $5,000 at a time. 

Walter Wong was charged in June 2020 with conspiracy to defraud the public of its right to honest services and with conspiracy to engage in money laundering, both involving Nuru.  Wong entered a guilty plea and agreed to cooperate with the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Multimillion-Dollar Mixed-Use Development:

Nuru admits he received free travel, gifts, and benefits, for working with Walter Wong to use Nuru’s official position to benefit a billionaire developer from China, referred to as DEVELOPER 1 in the plea agreement, who was developing a large multimillion-dollar mixed use project in San Francisco.  Wong, who worked as a consultant for DEVELOPER 1 on several of his large developments in the City, introduced Nuru to DEVELOPER 1.  Nuru met with Wong, another Department of Building Inspection official, DEVELOPER 1, and others over dinner on multiple occasions and discussed DEVELOPER 1’s projects.  Nuru never paid for the dinners.  Nuru admits that he also met with DEVELOPER 1 multiple times in China.  According to Nuru, DEVELOPER 1 owned multiple hotels in China, including five-star hotels.  Nuru received gifts from him, including free hotel stays. 

Nuru admits that, in exchange, he used his official position and influence to help DEVELOPER 1 obtain necessary approvals for his large, multimillion-dollar mixed-use project.  Nuru admits, among other things, that he told Sandra Zuniga that DEVELOPER 1 was upset because he had spent large amounts of money and had provided “a whole list of things” that Nuru said “we need to get done[.]”  Nuru admits that whenever DEVELOPER 1 or one of his employees notified him of an issue, Nuru directed one of his DPW managers to solve the problem and expedite the process.  Nuru also used his official influence with other City officials to solve problems encountered by DEVELOPER 1 that fell within the other City officials’ area of responsibility.

Recology:

Recology Inc. is a waste management company headquartered in San Francisco and the parent company of Sunset Scavenger Company, Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Company, and Recology San Francisco (referred to as the “SF Recology Group” and, collectively with Recology Inc., as “Recology”).  Recology Inc. provided refuse collection and disposal services for residential and commercial customers in the City, as well as for the City itself, through the SF Recology Group.

As Director of DPW, Nuru presided over the process governing the rates Recology could charge in San Francisco.  Nuru recommended to the Rate Board whether to approve any rate increase for Recology.  Nuru also influenced “tipping fee” rates that Recology charged DPW when DPW dumped materials at a Recology facility, Sustainable Crushing.  Nuru could approve, deny, or affect operational changes that Recology wanted to make in San Francisco which, Nuru admits in his plea agreement, gave him the ability in his official capacity to affect Recology’s business. 

Nuru admits he accepted numerous valuable items from Recology and used his official position to help Recology’s business.  Among other things, Recology paid for soil to be delivered to Nuru’s ranch property in Colusa County, for expensive meals for Nuru, and for a two-night trip to New York on the City’s business in December 2017. 

Nuru admits that he also requested Recology to pay, and Recology did pay, hundreds of thousands of dollars to a San Francisco non-profit (Non-Profit A) in the form of donations for a cleaning program known as Giant Sweep.  Non-Profit A would then donate the payments to another non-profit that administered funds for the Giant Sweep program.  Nuru admitted he could then access the funds for a variety of other uses—including procuring goods and services for staff meals and appreciation events, volunteer programs, merchandise, community support, and events from specific vendors—in addition to their originally designated purpose for Giant Sweep.  From 2014 through the end of 2019, Recology donated approximately $150,000 per year for Giant Sweep, in $30,000 installments—for a total of approximately $750,000.

Nuru also admits he requested Recology hire his son.  Recology hired him and paid him, between 2015 and 2017, approximately $17,000.  Recology also funded a paid internship for Nuru’s son at a different non-profit organization and, between 2017 and 2018, paid approximately $23,600 to fund the paid internship.

Nuru admits he requested that Recology fund his DPW holiday parties.  Between 2016 and 2019, Recology paid approximately $60,000 for that purpose.  Recology made the payments through the Lefty O’Doul’s Foundation, a non-profit organization run by Nick Bovis. 

Two former Recology executives, Paul F. Giusti and John F. Porter, have been charged in this investigation.  Giusti was charged in November 2020, and Porter was charged in April 2021.  Both men were charged with bribery of Nuru and money laundering involving Nuru.  Giusti pleaded guilty in August 2021 to engaging in a conspiracy to bribe Nuru and is cooperating with the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.  Porter’s charges remain pending.

The three subsidiaries of Recology, Inc. now have new leadership and have implemented enhanced corporate compliance programs to end any corrupt practices.  Recology resolved corporate charges brought against them through a deferred prosecution agreement with the government.  Pursuant to the agreement, the companies paid a $36 million fine, agreed to implement enhanced corporate compliance programs, and agreed to fully cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Nick Bovis:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that he received multiple bribes from restaurateur Nick Bovis.  The bribes were in exchange for Nuru using his official acts and influence to assist, or to promise to assist, in public business opportunities with the City.  The bribes included free meals and entertainment for Nuru, his family, and associates at restaurants owned by Bovis and thousands of dollars in free appliances for Nuru’s ranch property.  Nuru also anticipated and expected tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from proceeds that Bovis would earn from the City concessions or contracts awarded due to Nuru’s official acts or influence to assist Bovis.

In one plea agreement example, Nuru admits he helped Bovis in a plan to win a bid for a restaurant lease at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).  Bovis expected to make money from the SFO concession, and Nuru expected Bovis would continue to provide bribes in exchange for Nuru’s help with the airport concession process and other public contracts.

In another example, Nuru admits he gave Bovis a price list of appliances that Nuru wanted for his ranch in or about 2018, a time when Bovis was seeking Nuru’s assistance with the SFO concession and other City business opportunities.  Bovis purchased the appliances and brought them to Nuru’s ranch.  Nuru accepted them as an exchange for his continued official acts and influence to help Bovis, and he did not pay for them.  The appliances were worth approximately $22,000.

Nick Bovis pleaded guilty in May 2020 to wire fraud and honest services wire fraud involving Nuru and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation. 

Florence Kong:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that he accepted a gold Rolex watch from Bay Area businesswoman Florence Kong.  The watch was valued at approximately $36,550.  Nuru admits he used his official position to benefit Kong’s businesses and did so in exchange for the Rolex and for cash, free meals, and other items of value provided by Kong, including an iron fence that Kong installed at Nuru’s ranch.  In one example, Nuru states that he used his official position to direct business to SFR Recovery Inc., a recycling business that Kong owned. 

Florence Kong was charged and pleaded guilty to bribery of Nuru and to making false statements to FBI agents during the investigation.  She was sentenced in February 2021 to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay a $95,000 fine.

Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, & Alan Varela:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that between 2013 and January 2020 he accepted a series of bribes and kickbacks from Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin, and Alan Varela in exchange for past and future official actions benefitting their City business ventures.  Nuru received free meals and entertainment, cash, and free labor and materials for his ranch – including a brand new tractor.  Nuru also expected to receive a portion of the proceeds  from anticipated City contracts awarded to them or their associates as a result of Nuru’s official acts or influence on their behalf.

In one example, Nuru admitted he helped Varela and Gilmartin’s joint venture win a DPW supply contract and a related lease with the Port of San Francisco (the “Port”) to operate an asphalt recycling plant and a concrete plant on the Port’s land.  In the early stages, Nuru helped the group prepare their proposal by providing them inside non-public information on the project.  The non-public information was delivered to Hernandez through emails or phone calls or through regular dinning meetings in San Mateo with Gilmartin and Hernandez.  Gilmartin paid approximately $20,000 for the dinners, with the parties agreeing that Nuru’s dinners were worth approximately $7,000.

Nuru admits that Gilmartin promised him $100,000 for his official assistance to pressure a large developer to select one of Gilmartin and Varela’s joint-venture partners for a large project in San Francisco.  The large developer complied with Nuru’s request because, as Nuru admits, the large developer needed DPW approvals for the project and for other large developments in the City.

Nuru admits that he received approximately $25,000 in cash from Hernandez and received approximately $250,000 in free labor and materials from Hernandez at Nuru’s ranch. 

Nuru also requested the group give him a tractor.  In February 2019, Alan Varela delivered a new tractor to the Nuru’s ranch, a benefit valued at approximately $20,000.

Balmore Hernandez was also charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud in October 2020 and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation. 

William Gilmartin was charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud in May 2021 and agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.
Alan Varela was charged in connection with this investigation.  He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and was sentenced in September 2021 to two years in prison and ordered to pay a $127,000 fine. 

Sandra Zuniga Money Laundering:

Nuru admits that in or about 2010 he bought a 10-acre lot in Colusa County and developed it into his vacation ranch with free labor and materials provided by City contractors seeking favors from him. Nuru admits he also used the proceeds of his crimes to pay the mortgage.  To conceal and launder the source of the proceeds, Nuru states he funneled the money through Sandra Zuniga who made the monthly $1,000 mortgage payments out of her checking account. Nuru admits that from 2014 through August 2017, he typically gave Zuniga approximately $1,000 per month, generally in cash, and she deposited the money into her bank account.  She then made the $1,000 payment towards the mortgage.  In this way, Zuniga paid at least $42,000 of the mortgage.

Zuniga was charged and pleaded guilty in March 2021 to engaging in a conspiracy to launder money with Nuru.  She agreed to cooperate in the government’s San Francisco City Hall corruption investigation.

Other Bribes:

Nuru admits in his plea agreement that around 2018 he accepted a bribe of $20,000 in cash from a former government employee in exchange for Nuru using his position to help a particular person obtain an engineering job with the City. Nuru received the cash in three installments of $10,000, $5,000, and $5,000.  Ultimately, the individual failed to maintain employment with the City.

Nuru also admits he accepted cash bribes from a prominent developer in San Francisco.  The cash bribes usually consisted of a few thousand dollars.  The developer would later call Nuru when he had any problems with DPW-related approvals or other matters that Nuru could help resolve. 

In his plea agreement, Nuru admits guilt and agrees to plead guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346.  If convicted of the count, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or not more than the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss of the crime. 

The government indicates in the plea agreement its intent to ask for up to a 108 month (9 year) sentence for Nuru.  However, any sentence imposed by the court will follow only after the court’s consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Today, in a procedural step towards orally entering his guilty plea, Nuru was arraigned and pleaded not guilty before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero to an information charging him with a count of honest services wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346. 

Nuru’s next appearance is currently set before United States District Judge Susan Illston on January 14, 2022, at which he is currently scheduled to formally enter his guilty plea pursuant to his plea agreement.  Nuru remains out of custody on bond.
.
This case is part of a larger federal investigation targeting public corruption in the City and County of San Francisco.  To date, 12 individuals and three corporate entities have been charged, including two high-ranking San Francisco public officials, Nuru and Harlan Kelly.  Multiple city contractors and facilitators have been charged.  Allegations in the complaint filed against Harlan Kelly assert that he received thousands of dollars in airfare, meals, jewelry, and travel expenses, along with repair work on his house.   

The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  The case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation. 

The post Former San Francisco Public Works Director Admits To String Of Briberies And Corruption Throughout Years In Workplace | USAO-NDCA appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Former movie stuntman, 63, who appeared in Braveheart admits downloading more than 250 naughty pictures of children

• Andrew Pattullo, 63, was forced to sign the sex offender registry for five years
• The officers found 254 indecent videos and pictures of children on his two laptops
• Most of the material was Category A – the heaviest type

By Isabella Nikolic for Mailonline

Released: 11:13 am EDT, Feb. 9, 2021 | Updated: 11:13 am EDT, Feb. 9, 2021

A former film stuntman who worked on Braveheart pleaded guilty to downloading 254 indecent videos and pictures of children.

Andrew Pattullo, 63, of Hollydean, Gloucestershire, was forced to sign the Sex Offender Register and was sentenced by Gloucester Crown Court to a three-year joint injunction that included 100 hours of unpaid labor.

Prosecutor Ramin Pakrooh told the court that Gloucestershire police went to Pattullo’s house on February 8, 2019 after being advised by the National Crime Agency that indecent images were being downloaded from that address.

“Officials confiscated two laptops, one that was currently in use and an older device that was practically obsolete,” Pakrooh said.

Andrew Pattullo, 63, of Hollydean, Gloucestershire, was forced to sign the Sex Offender Register and was sentenced by Gloucester Crown Court to a three-year joint injunction that included 100 hours of unpaid labor

“The devices were examined by experts who discovered videos and images on the current computer and the traces of illegal activity that were deleted from the older laptop.

‘Pattullo downloaded 104 videos that were six hours and 35 minutes long and seven images in the hardest category A; 98 more videos with a running time of three hours and 25 minutes and 39 images in category B and two videos with a duration of 42 seconds and four images in category C.

‘Deleting 16′ footprints’ of older files found on the older computer.

“There is no evidence that Pattullo distributed any of the images and is only charged with possession.

‘Most of the material is in Category A, the heaviest.’

Defense attorney Jonathan Lewis said: “Pattullo was arrested on February 8, 2019, but was not interviewed until his computers were examined in May 2020 and subsequently requisitioned by post last August.

Prosecutor Ramin Pakrooh told the court that Gloucestershire police went to Pattullo’s house on February 8, 2019 after being advised by the National Crime Agency that indecent images were being downloaded from that address. Pictured: Gloucester Crown Court

“During this time he suffered a mental breakdown with a recurrence of the post-traumatic stress disorder that he suffered from with the Edinburgh Fire Department for 17 years.

‘He is a man of good character who started a new career as a chimney sweep in 2010.’

Pattullo has appeared in many films and commercials, but the highlight of his career was with Braveheart, which won an Oscar for Best Picture in 1996.

The judge, Recorder Joanne Martin QC, told Pattullo, “You had a large number of six and a half hours of videos in your possession and they showed that you care about young children.

“These are serious crimes that are classified as property.

“You have to resolve your urge for these types of images as part of your sentence. In cases like this one of a man who has worked hard his entire life, it is perfectly appropriate for me to consider community-based punishment.

“However, this is not a victimless crime. They have watched videos and pictures of underage children and got the market for those kind of pictures. They increase the supply and demand for illegal pornography.

“More than anything, it is necessary to prevent you from doing this again to make sure you get help.

“Although your offense is over the threshold, I think it would be far more sensible to get you to a course to solve your problems.”

The judge sentenced Pattullo to a three-year joint injunction that included attending the Horizon course (a government course for medium-risk sex offenders) and doing 100 hours of unpaid work.

Pattullo was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for the next five years and to abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Ordinance that restricts his internet use for the same period.

The judge also ordered the confiscation and destruction of Pattullo’s two computers.

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A creepy handyman admitted hiding cameras in bathrooms in homes in Paramus and Wayne, New Jersey, police said.

Romeo Sanchez, 47, of West New York, was arrested on September 17 for invasion of privacy by Paramus police after a homeowner who hired him to install a window discovered a suspicious device in her bathroom in late August reported WABC.

The device, which police said was inserted into a bathroom wall, was later classified as a micro-camera with a memory card, the station reports.

The homeowner saw the device plugged into an electrical outlet in the bathroom and knew it was “not hers,” Paramus police officer Mark Pinajian told CBS New York.

The victim then saw clips on the device showing herself and her bathroom as well as another location, Pinajian said.

Investigators set out to track down Sanchez, a married father, who admitted to having the camera installed in the Paramus house – and claimed he intended to retrieve her when he returned to finish work, police said With.

The other location pictured on camera was a bathroom in a house in Wayne where Sanchez was also being hired for a job, police said.

No children were present in either house and there is no evidence that Sanchez distributed the video, CBS New York reported.

“As far as we can see, he’s not a licensed contractor,” said Pinajian. “He’s like a handyman doing little things and he’s been referred to other people. That’s how he got into business. “

Investigators are investigating Wayne’s home there, Paramus police said. Wayne police have not returned a message asking for comment on the case, NorthJersey.com reported.

Sanchez, who served up to a year in prison, has been released pending a trial, reports NJ.com.

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