FPPC Enforcement Decisions: June 19, 2014
Contact: Jay Wierenga , (916) 322-7761
The following are enforcement decisions approved by the Fair Political Practices Commission at its regular monthly meeting held on Thursday, June 19, 2014. Decisions are listed by category and include a brief summary of each case and the total amount of any administrative fine or fines in each case.
Additional information on each of the enforcement cases below can be found in the June agenda on the FPPC website at www.fppc.ca.gov. FPPC agendas are distributed and posted on the agency website at least 10 days prior to each monthly meeting.
The web version of the agenda includes links to the stipulations agreed to by the commission and by the individuals and organizations subject to the fines, or the default decisions proposed to the commission. Exhibits in support of the stipulations and proposed default decisions are also available on the website. If you or need further assistance, please contact the FPPC communications office at (916) 322-7761 or press@fppc.ca.gov.
Money Laundering
Wisdom Culture and Education Organization, made campaign contributions to Steve Cho for Mayor in connection with the November 4, 2008 election in Fremont through its employees, by reimbursing them with a company check and/or providing the money for a contribution by company check, for the campaign contributions they made. $25,000 fine.
La Noria Entertainment, operates an entertainment company at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena in the City of Pico Rivera. At La Noria Entertainment’s direction, their employees made campaign contributions to a Pico Rivera City Councilmember from their personal bank accounts. La Noria Entertainment reimbursed them for the contributions in cash. By reimbursing the individuals for making the contributions, La Noria Entertainment made contributions in names of others. $15,000 fine.
Over-the-limit Contributions
Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. and Reginald Jones-Sawyer for Assembly 2012, on or about December 29, 2011, accepted an over-the-limit contribution from Maria Ann Chachere in the form of a loan in the amount of $50,000 fine. Also, on or about January 27, 2012, they filed a semi-annual campaign statement for the period ending December 31, 2011, which reported receipt of the contribution. However, instead of reporting that Ms. Chachere was the true source of funds, they reported the contribution as a loan from Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. to his own committee. $10,000 fine.
Conflict of Interest
Rosanne Foust, a member of the Redwood City Council, attempted to use her official position to influence a governmental decision in which she had a financial interest, by proposing that the city council place the Saltworks development project on the November ballot. $3,000 fine.
Personal Use of Campaign Funds
Steven Detrick, the Vice Mayor of Elk Grove, used campaign funds for personal purposes, by expending approximately $425 in campaign funds at a charity auction to purchase a one night hotel stay and wine tasting. $1,500 fine.
Campaign Reporting
Sonny Dhaliwal, Sonny Dhaliwal for City Council 2010, and Sarbjit Dhaliwal,failed to deposit campaign contributions totaling $4,600 into the designated campaign bank account, failed to report the receipt of contributions totaling approximately $3,100, on a semi-annual campaign statement, failed to report the receipt of contributions totaling approximately $700, on a pre-election campaign statement, failed to report the receipt of contributions totaling approximately $300, on a pre-election campaign statement, and failed to report the receipt of contributions totaling approximately $500, on a semi-annual campaign statement. As a member of the Lathrop City Council, Sonny Dhaliwal failed to disclose the receipt of personal loans totaling $17,500. $21,000 fine.
Hector Chacon and California Citizens for Good Government. In this matter, Hector Chacon’s political consulting firm was paid with the Committee’s campaign funds. Additionally, he failed to disclose his income from a business position with his political consulting firm in his 2008 and 2009 annual SEIs. Hector Chacon and California Citizens for Good Government, in or during calendar years 2008 and 2009, used campaign funds totaling approximately $75,000, to compensate Hector Chacon for the performance of political, legislative, or governmental activities. Additionally, Hector Chacon, failed to disclose income from and his business position on his 2008 and 2009 annual Statements of Economic Interests. $16,000 fine.
Joshua Mitchell and Joshua Mitchell for Mayor 2012, failed to deposit eleven personal contributions, totaling $295.08, into the committee’s designated bank account before using those funds for campaign expenditures, and failed to timely report to the Sanger City Clerk by October 5, 2012, 39 contributions, totaling $7,041.76, received between July 1 and September 30, 2012. $7,000 fine.
Familias por Maywood, Veronica Guardado, and Ana Rosa Rizo, failed to timely file two semi-annual campaign statements. $5,000 fine.
Merced County Democratic Central Committee and Rich Gipson, failed to file a Pre-Election campaign statement for the reporting period October 17, 2010, through November 20, 2010, by November 29, 2010, in connection with the January 4, 2011 Special Election. Further, Committee and Gipson failed to properly disclose a $55,000 late contribution in a late contribution report made to Anna Caballero for Senate on or about October 19, 2010 and failed to properly disclose a $50,000 late contribution report made to Anna Caballero for Senate 2010 on or about October 25, 2010. $4,500 fine.
Committee to Preserve a Responsible Judiciary and Frank P. Barbaro, Treasurer, made two contributions of $10,000 each during the 90 days before the June 3, 2014 election and failed to file a 24 hour contribution report. $3,000 fine.
Re-Elect Council Members Rodriguez and Bruce 2013, Reynaldo Rodriguez, Barry Bruce, and Delia Olivas, Treasurer, failed to timely report receiving two late contributions to the Hawaiian Gardens City Clerk. $2,500 fine.
Familias por Maywood aka Familias por Maywood Supporting Aguirre Magana Varela for Maywood City Council, Edward Varela, and Oscar Magaña, failed to disclose cumulative contributions of $100 or more on the committee’s 2009 pre-election campaign statement. $2,000 fine.
Shannon Grove, Shannon Grove for Assembly 2012, and Karen Cain, failed to file online campaign reports disclosing contributions received of $5,000 or more outside the 90 day period before an election in connection with 11 contributions for a total of $77,400 from various individuals. $2,000 fine.
Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Santa Clara County PAC and Moyse Howard, Treasurer, failed to timely file two semi-annual campaign statements covering the periods January 1, 2012, through June 30, 2012, due on July 31, 2012, and July 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, due on January 31, 2013, with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. $400 fine.
Asian American Voters Guide and Lysa Ray, Treasurer, failed to timely file the semi-annual campaign statement covering the period January 1, 2013, through June 30, 2013, due on July 31, 2013, with the Secretary of State. $400 fine.
Kelli Moors, Candidate and Treasurer, Elisa Williamson, Candidate, and Re-Elect Williamson and Moors for Carlsbad School Board 2012, failed to timely file a campaign statement covering the period October 21, 2012, through December 31, 2012, due January 31, 2013, with the County of San Diego Registrar of Voters. $400 fine.
“Community for Excellent Schools” – a committee in support of Measure “R” and Grenisha Holmes, Treasurer, failed to timely file the semi-annual campaign statement covering the period January 1, 2013, through June 30, 2013, due on July 31, 2013, with the County of Ventura. $200 fine.
California Patriots PAC and John Fugatt, Treasurer, failed to timely file the semi-annual campaign statement covering the period July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, due on January 31, 2014, with the Secretary of State. $200 fine.
Maldonado Ballot Measure Committee to Protect California Families and Acquanette Warren, Treasurer, failed to timely file the campaign statement covering the period January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013, due July 31, 2013 in electronic format with the Office of the Secretary of State. $400 fine.
Andrew Chavez, Candidate and Treasurer, and Andrew Chavez for Harbor Commissioner 2010, failed to timely file the campaign statement covering the period October 1, 2010, through October 16, 2010, due October 21, 2010, with the County of Ventura County Clerk and Recorder. $200 fine.
Steven Nelson, Nelson on School Board 2012, and Steven Nelson, Treasurer,failed to timely file the semi-annual campaign statement covering the period July 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013, due on January 31, 2014, with the County of Santa Clara. $200 fine.
John Ortega, failed to timely file the Form 470, Campaign Short Form, covering the period of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, due July 31, 2013, with the Orange County Registrar of Voters. $200 fine.
Mass Mailing
Haddon Libby and Libby for Indian Wells City Council 2012, prior to the November 2012 election, caused to be sent four separate mass mailers opposing the election of Dana Reed, Larry “Bear” Bonafide, Ted Mertens, Ty Peabody, Bill Powers, and Mitchell Blumberg to the Indian Wells City Council, which failed to display required sender identification. $3,500 fine.
City of Rocklin, produced and sent 30,000 copies of the “Inside Rocklin” mailer at public expense, in April of 2014, which featured the mayor and members of the city council. $2,000 fine.
Lobbying Reporting
Marcie Berman and Marcie Berman of Counsel, failed to timely file a Lobbyist Report (Form 615) and Report of Lobbying Firm (Form 625) from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, disclosing total payments received for lobbying services in the amount of $0.00. $3,600 fine.
Statement of Economic Interests – Non-Reporting
Dan Schnur, as a candidate, failed to report a $1,018 gift in the form of travel expenses from the Northern California Lincoln Club on his candidate Statement of Economic Interests. $200 fine.
Statement of Economic Interests – Non-Filer
Cathy Prazma, a Board Member of the Descanso Community Planning Group, failed to file a 2011 annual Statement of Economic Interests by the April 2, 2012 deadline. $5,000 fine.
Jerry Baker, Tuolumne County Planning Commissioner, failed to timely file a 2012 annual Statement of Economic Interests. $1,000 fine.
Jonathon Leone, Sausalito City Council member, failed to timely file a 2012 annual Statement of Economic Interests. $1,000 fine.
Juan Contreras, a member of the City of Avenal Planning Commission, failed to timely file a 2011 and 2012 Annual Statements of Economic Interests, covering the period of January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011, due April 2, 2012, and January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, due April 2, 2013. $400 fine.
Michelle A. Clemmensen, as a Health Care Services Administrator for the California Correctional Health Care Services, failed to timely file a 2012 annual Statement of Economic Interests covering the period January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, due April 1, 2013. $400 fine.
Martha Flores, City of Arvin Planning Commissioner, failed to timely file a 2012 annual Statement of Economic Interests covering the period January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, due April 2, 2013. $200 fine.
Nonato Largoza, as a Physician and Surgeon for the California Correctional Health Care Services, failed to timely file a 2012 annual Statement of Economic Interests covering the period January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, due April 1, 2013. $200 fine.
Daniel DeVries, as a Planning Commissioner for the County of San Benito, failed to timely file a 2012 annual Statement of Economic Interests covering the period January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, due April 1, 2013. $200 fine.
Major Donor Reporting
Orosco & Associates, Inc., failed to timely file a Major Donor Report (Form 461) with the City of Watsonville disclosing three contributions made during the period January 1, 2013, through June 30, 2013, by the January 31, 2014, deadline. $400 fine.
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