Unfortunately, true justice will not be served in either of these cases, but at the very least, there is an acknowledgement that what these men engaged in was wrong. A San Francisco building inspector was found guilty of corruption and is now facing one year in prison while a utilities chief was also found guilty on six of eight charges of corruption.
Courthouse News Service reports:
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Bernie Curran, a former senior building inspector for San Francisco, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison Friday for accepting gratuity payments in exchange for approving building permits.
Curran pleaded guilty in December and had requested to serve his sentence at home.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, a Clinton appointee, called the case “complicated,” noting that Curran had many supporters who attested to his character.
“It’s very important for public officials to conduct themselves in accordance with the rules,” Illston said. “I get letters saying this kind of conduct has degraded the office, has made people feel less secure and has left the office in question about whether prior inspections by Curran were properly done, necessitating expensive and time-consuming audit work.”
Illston said that “deterrence” was the most important part of the sentencing, and home confinement would be a “slap on the wrist.”
“It’s really important that public servants do what they’re supposed to,” Illston said.
Before the reading of his sentence, Curran apologized and said he was “ashamed of his actions.”
“I don’t believe I ever did anything that would have jeopardized anyone’s house. I’m hoping for the mercy of the court but willing to accept my punishment as a man,” Curran said.
Casey Boome, an attorney for the U.S. government, said that Curran used his position for his benefit and disregarded safety when issuing building permits. He brought up 1400 Church Street, a property in San Francisco that Curran certified was livable even though there was no working fire safety system on the ground floor. Residents lived in the building from 2019 to 2021 before the fire department discovered the lack fire safety system.
In his plea agreement, Curran admitted that he accepted illegal payments from two people in connection with his duties. Curran accepted a $260,000 loan from a person identified only as Developer One. Curran gave Developer One’s properties Certificates of Final Completion and Occupancy (CFC) in exchange for the money, which Curran needed to pay down his mortgage.
“The defendant and Developer One took extraordinary lengths to conceal this loan,” Boome said. “Curran concealed payments, and he lied and filed false paperwork.”
Curran also admitted to accepting payments from Rodrigo Santos, former president of the San Francisco Building Inspection Commission. Santos worked with clients who were seeking permits and building inspections. Curran and Santos arranged for Santos’ clients to funnel money into a San Francisco non-profit youth and adult athletic organization that Curran supported and coached.
According to the plea agreement, Santos advised Curran of charitable donations while asking for final permits or inspections on his property.
CNS also reported on the utilities chief.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — A federal jury on Friday found former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission chief Harlan Kelly guilty on six of eight corruption-related charges.
The jury deliberated for slightly more than a day before delivering a verdict. When asked how he felt about the verdict, Kelly told reporters he was “processing it.” Kelly’s wife, Naomi, called the verdict “unfortunate.”
“We just move on. We’re preparing for the next steps,” Naomi Kelly said.
Kelly had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Jurors found Kelly guilty on four counts related to a scheme to defraud Quicken loans and guilty of two of four counts related to bribes he received from billionaire Walter Wong.
Kelly could face a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted, although attorneys said he likely would not face the maximum sentence.
His attorney Brian Getz told reporters he “felt strongly about the innocence of Harlan Kelly.”
“We’re trying to absorb the verdict,” Getz said.
Getz added that he was grateful for the work of the jurors, but he was disappointed in their verdict. He said he and Kelly are considering all options prior to sentencing, including potentially filing an appeal because of insufficient evidence.
Kelly “feels crushed,” Getz said. “Going to trial on a case with stakes this high is a heavy burden.”
Prosecutors said Kelly’s criminal activity centered around two separate schemes, including conspiring with Wong to land a city streetlight project to Wong in exchange for bribes including free and discounted construction work, a trip to China for his family, and more.
Wong testified at trial that he gave benefits to Kelly in the hopes that Kelly would award him a city streetlight contract. Wong is cooperating with the United States government in hopes of a lighter sentence.
Prosecutors told jurors Kelly defrauded Quicken Loans by conspiring with real estate mogul Victor Makras to hide the true nature of his debts on a loan application. Kelly sought the $1.3 million loan to pay off his construction and personal debts, as well as his wife’s student loans.
The trial lasted weeks in front of U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg, with emails, documents, and text messages presented as evidence. Prosecutors painted Kelly as a conniving manipulator who knowingly participated in both schemes. His defense argued Kelly was only guilty of trusting the wrong people.
The verdict is the latest in a corruption investigation that swept up many San Francisco officials and others.
Wong pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges in 2020 and was ordered to pay the city a $1.7 million settlement. Wong is cooperating with the government in their ongoing investigation of city corruption. Makras was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay a $15,200 fine for providing false statements to Quicken Loans to help Kelly secure the loan.
The problem in both of these situations is not only the people of San Francisco but more than likely the people across the US will pay for three hots and a cot, along with all the amenities of the prison system for these men’s crimes. They took the people in committing the crime and they’ll be taking the people again for the alleged “justice” brought on them. Something needs to change!
