Everardo ‘Lalo’ Trujillo outright lied to MUSD Board members about his employment history.
“Corruption is authority plus monopoly minus transparency.” – Unknown
By Brian Hews
Editors note: The first in a series that will expose corruption and cronyism at the highest levels within the Montebello Unified School District.
Everardo “Lalo” Trujillo is a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Registered Municipal Advisor and a financial advisor to the MUSD, trusted by the MUSD Board to give advice on sensitive financial matters regarding the district.
Trujillo has been working for the MUSD since June of 2014, providing input on the implementation of the $300 million bond, Measure GS, which passed this year.
But with all the responsibility and fiduciary duties, Trujillo, at the regular Nov. 3 MUSD Board Meeting, completely misrepresented himself, calling into question Trujillo’s true motives and allegiance to the MUSD.
Trujillo’s blatant falsehood took place while the board was seeking to draw down the first $100 million of the $300 million Measure GS bond. The resolution passed by a vote of 4-1, with Hector Chacon casting the lone no vote.
Some on the Board were concerned about Trujillo’s relationship with Board President Ben Cardenas.
During the meeting, Chacon asked Trujillo, “Have you worked for the City of Pico Rivera?” Trujillo paused and answered no.
MUSD Board President Ben Cardenas.
“Let me restate the question, “countered Chacon, “have you in any capacity ever worked for the City of Pico Rivera.”
Once again Trujillo answered no, this time looking over at MUSD Board President Ben Cardenas after his answer.
Strangely, Cardenas knew that Trujillo worked for Pico Rivera but did not interject during Chacon’s questioning.
Cardenas works for Pico Rivera as Assistant City Manager; he was hired Jan 2, 2015, so Cardenas knew Trujillo worked for Pico Rivera, yet did not confront Trujillo after Chacon’s questions.
A Pico Rivera Council Meeting Seating Chart, obtained by HMG-CN and dated February 2015, shows that Cardenas sat at the same table during Council meetings.
Chart showing Cardenas sat with Trujillo at the same table during Council meetings. Click on image to view larger document.
HMG-CN subsequently found further proof of Trujillo’s misrepresentation obtaining his application to the SEC to become a registered municipal advisor.
The application showed that Trujillo indicated he worked for Pico Rivera as the Director of Finance starting in Oct. 2014 earning $17,750 per month. A search on Transparent California confirmed that statement and shows pay records through 2015 for Trujillo.
Trujillo’s SEC application showing he worked for Pico Rivera. Click on image to view larger document.
Transparent California shows Trujillo worked for Pico Rivera in 2015. Click on image to view larger document.
In addition, the investigation showed that Trujillo has questionable ties related to his own company, Mission Trail Advisors.
One month prior to his employment with MUSD, Trujillo proposed an Energy Lighting Program for MUSD using Evergreen Energy Solutions as contractors.
Evergreen is owned by Luis Rojas, who also owns Del Terra Construction Company.
Cardenas’ boss is Pico Rivera City Councilman Gustavo Camacho; Camacho works for Rojas and Del Terra.
Del Terra recently landed a lucrative project management contract with MUSD worth almost $16 million, which was approved by the board in August of this year.
Questions continue to surround Cardenas’ refusal to recuse himself in the vote to give Del Terra the contract given his relationship with Camacho.
MUSD Chief Businesss Officer Ruben Rojas Involved?
MUSD CBO Ruben Rojas
Trujillo later proposed that MUSD discuss the use of state of California’s Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) for funding of the Energy Lighting Program.
At the time, current MUSD CBO Rojas was Deputy Executive Director of the I-Bank.
Rojas was appointed to the I-Bank in July 2013, yet, for some reason, left the prestigious job to become CBO at MUSD.
HMG-CN contacted Lloyd Garrison, California School Employees Association Montebello Chapter 505 President for comment on Trujillo’s misrepresentation at the meeting.
Garrison did not mince words saying, “I really don’t understand why he would lie to board member Chacon, unless Trujillo was hiding or covering something up. It looked like Board President Cardenas did not know what to say when he (Trujillo) was questioned twice and answered no.”
“There is lots of mismanaging, mishandling, and wrongdoing and board president (Cardenas) is letting it all happen. In order to make the $300 million bond work, Ruben Rojas needs to leave and Cardenas needs to step aside.”
Garrison finished by saying, “Trujillo publicly lied, but what is equally as troubling is his company, Mission Trail Advisors. Mission Trails and Del Terra and have worked together, and CBO Ruben Rojas is using him for advice on our improvement bond? That is not right, that is a big conflict of interest.”
UP NEXT: Catch Me If You Can…… Rojas Defrauds I-Bank and MUSD.
When is the next report on this going to be published? Can’t believe they granted more contracts to Del Terra after the Bell Gardens High School three story building fiasco.
Don’t forget ,George Upegi,who is the( MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR),That went along with,Ruben Rojas, to move Del Terra (Evergreen),into the maintenance yard .George had us build offices in the second story building for Ruben Rojas and Del Terra to have meetings,on big projects.George Upegi,moved facilities coordinators out of their offices,then George was going to be a consultant,for del terra after George Upegi retires this December.George Upegi is familiar with cronyism,in maintenance and operations.more to come if you want to know.
All roads lead back to Pico Rivera Mob Boss Gustavo “El Chapo” Camacho. He knows Ben Cardenas owes his job to him and is in turn squeezing Ben at the school district to make millions. Poor Ben knows his fast-track job at Pico Rivera is at-risk if he bucks El Chapo. Camacho has tried to muscle his own city’s school district El Rancho Unified for contracts for his company Del Terra and now they are paying the price as well. I think Brian has a big fish on the line here. This is classic Play-To-Pay!
Del Terra couldn’t build a play house! Look at the horrible job they did at BGHS. The building is a POS! Plus, they couldn’t even finish it someone else had to come in and bail them out! Let’s not forget about the Asbestos cover-up! None of their workers were certified to remove any of that hazardous material. The district had to pay out five-million dollars to have other contractors clean up the mess. The sad thing is our students are the ones that suffer! We should be spending this money on computers, books, and new state-of-the-art facilities! They need to get real contractors in there that have experience not these fly by night operators! Ben is going to get recalled! The gig is up! Why don’t they request quality RFPs with up-charge clauses and penalties for time-delays? Waivers of subrogation? Look at Del Terra’s Manta report. They have don’t even have that many employees. Do the research people and you will see the scam! It’s all a SHAM! The contract they signed with Del Terra is full of fluff anyone with a brain knows someone is getting a kick back!