The Montebello offices of California State Senator Ronald Calderon were empty late Tuesday afternoon. Randy Economy Photo
UPDATED AT 9:35 P.M.
By Brian Hews and Brian Hews
The Sacramento offices of Senator Ron Calderon along with the California Latino Legislative Caucus were raided by federal officials including the US Attorney’s Office and the FBI early this evening.
The raids began shortly before 5 pm, a former California State Assemblyman who did not want to be identified told LCCN that officers converged on Calderon’s office “en masse.”
Sources also tell LCCN that other state lawmakers involved with the Latino Caucus are being targeted.
Several calls into the offices of Senator Ron Calderon were not returned this evening and his District Office located in Montebello appeared to be empty tonight.
Senator Ronald Calderon is considering a campaign in 2014 to become Assessor of Los Angeles County. The current Assessor John Noguez is the focus of the largest public corruption case in the history of LA County. Calderon told LCCN that he was “exploring the Assessor’s office as an option in 2014.”
Officials from the FBI and US Attorney’s Office raid the Sacramento offices of California State Senator Ronald Calderon on Tuesday late afternoon. Photo provided to Los Cerritos Community Newspaper from www.Watchourcity.com.
“This afternoon, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation served search warrants in the State Capitol at the office of Senator Ron Calderon and in the Legislative Office Building at the Latino Legislative Caucus office,” said Tony Beard, the Senate’s chief sergeant at arms, in a statement to the media.
“Those warrants are sealed by order of the Federal Court; therefore we have no further information,” he said. “The Senate has and will continue to fully cooperate with the agents in this matter.
Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the agency in Los Angeles, said the search involved two locations, both related to the same investigation. She declined to discuss the investigation in any detail.
Neeki Bianchi, a special agent in Sacramento, said the investigation is “not a public safety issue.”
The Sacramento Bee is reporting that famed Los Angeles Attorney Mark Geragos is representing Calderon. The Bee is reporting thatr, said prosecutors “have no case,” and accused them of acting inappropriately in disclosing that the FBI was conducting a search.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office should be ashamed of themselves,” Geragos told the Bee. “They have no case, so what they do is they leak the sealed information in an effort to hassle innocent people, and that’s all the comment I have.”
Geragos also told the Bee, “What they’re going after is anything to divert attention from their own misfeasance or malfeasance.” “All I know is that it’s very easy to make an allegation when you’ve got search warrants that are under seal and don’t have to defend it, and they should be ashamed of themselves.”
Well it all fits now – I have been writing and trying to communicate with this socialist liberal democrat senator ever since I was gerrymandered into his district by the libtard skewered redistricting committee! Now I find out he has been too busy doing illegal stuff to answer a common citizen! ESPECIALLY a constituent who is NOT a liberal.. so it will be interesting to see how the drive-by media treats this one! I hope this smug and arrogant a-hole gets exactly what he deserves!!
I sincerely hope Mendoza is the target of and investigation! He is one of the worst and most smugly arrogant latino politicians, even if he is NOT in Ca Ca land office anymore. Where there is big money, loosely accounted for he will be there..he is capable of chicanery and very likely involved in a LOT of shady deals. He was my state assemblyman for six incredibly wasted years! Watching this a-hole in the legislature was like listening to fingernails on a blackboard! I communicated with him for years and NEVER EVER received a form letter back- because I was NOT hispanic, he could care less and didn’t give a damn..If anyone is DUMB enough to believe him, he will scam and screw you too! He needs to be sitting in a jail cell with tar and feathers!!!
In 2012, Tony Mendoza ran unsuccessfully for Central Basin Water District and tried to shake down water board member Phil Hawkins for a coveted job in the water district in exchange for not running initially. You combine this with the money laundering probe and it smells like a soon to be convicted felon that has no business running for public office. Seems that the termed out legislator is now looking for work and is apparently on the payroll of Hawaiian Gardens Casino owner and Town Boss Mr. Moscowitz.
In Cerritos and beyond, we are tired of career politicians that are beholden to special interests and lack real life experience and education. Instead of Teacher for Assembly, Mr. Mendoza your signs need to read THIEF or Thug For Assembly! Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls we are tired of Tony the dirty water games!
The Calderon’s Family connection to other corrupt politicians in the southeast cities was reported by Los Cerritos community news months ago .
George cole aka ” Fat George ” who was also partners with Tom Calderon at Old Timers Foundations funneled millions of $$$$$ from Central Basin Water to Old Timers Foundation through toilet replacement and other programs .
Thank you to Los Cerritos community News
Hey Randy,
This is linked to Noguez, isn’t it?
I am not convinced that it is linked to Noguez, BUT, some of the players involved in this probe also have obvious ties to both Calderon and Noguez. I think this investigation (into Calderon) has a tremendous amount of “moving parts.” We are going to have more details within the next 48 hours. Stay tuned. Randy Economy