In April, the FBI, the IRS and the district attorney�™s office served search warrants at four council members�™ homes.
US officials say Marcelo Co, a former Moreno Valley City Councilman, agreed Tuesday to plead guilty for taking a $2.3 million bribe from an undercover operative posing as a real estate broker.
NBC reported that Co had met with the undercover operative who was posing as a real estate broker in the fall of 2012 to discuss the sale of a 30-acre parcel that he owned, according to court documents.
Co told the broker that once he had control of the City Council he could change the zoning of the property, dramatically increasing the land value, the report said.
In April, the FBI, the IRS and the district attorney�™s office served search warrants at four council members�™ homes – Mayor Tom Owings, Councilwoman Victoria Baca, and Jesse Molina and Co.
Co resigned in August following unrelated charges of disability benefit fraud.
Co was paid up to $15,000 that were said to be used to finance the campaigns of individuals who would vote with him on land use issues, the report said citing officials.
�œWith the City Council election in November 2012, Co told the broker that he had the votes needed to alter the zoning of the property appraised at $710,000. Co proposed that the broker buy the property for $5.36 million, including a $2.36 million cash payment to Co,” the report said.
Co accepted the bribe on Jan. 30, 2013 after publicly filing to sell the land for only $3 million.
He is also facing a false tax return charge. Investigators say he failed to report more than $100,000 in income on 2010 tax return for his company, Qwik Pack Systems.
For both charges, the 64-year-old man faces up to 13 years in federal prison. His first appearance in court is expected early December.
ARA/ARA
Source: Press TV