Copyright © 2010 WatchOurCity.com
In The Public Interest .com
| A courageously innovative, muckraking web site that focuses like a laser on the political, financial and legal shenanigans of the local government California First Amendment Coalition |
WatchOurCity
BELL
Pedro Carrillo,
Bell City manager
Bell City manager
Campaign contributors for Pedro Carrillo City Employer Occupation Amount Transaction Date
Bell
BELL TOW SERVICES INC BELL $500.00 2/6/2002
BELL TOW SERVICES INC BELL $300.00 3/1/2002
COMMITTEE TO ELECT GEORGE FRANCIS BASS BELL $500.00 11/15/2001
COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE LOCAL GOV. BELL $1,000.00 9/30/2001
DARRYL ROTH * BELL WESTERN AUTO OF BELL MANAGER $1,000.00 2/5/2002
*(L.A. Times 7-31-01, "Bell's Business Ties to Officials Probed")
GEORGE COLE** BELL OLDTIMERS FOUNDATION CEO $250.00 9/30/2001
**(L.A. Times 8-21-10, "Charity Run by Ex-Bell Mayor didn't disclose Gov. contracts")
GEORGE MIRABAL BELL CITY OF BELL COUNCIL MEMBER $250.00 9/30/2001
R G CONTRUCTION & ENGINEERING INC BELL $300.00 3/1/2002
ROLF JANSSEN BELL LAUSD EDUCATOR $500.00 11/15/2001
SOPP CHEVROLET BELL $1,000.00 12/31/2001
WESTERN GAMING CONSULTANT*** BELL $500.00 11/15/2001 SubTotal = $6,100
***http://articles.latimes.com/1993-12-15/local/me-2034_1_card-club
ROBERT RIZZO HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY OF BELL MUNICIPAL MANAGER $500.00 11/15/2001
ROBERT RIZZO HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY OF BELL MUNICIPAL MANAGER $500.00 2/6/2002
ROBERT RIZZO HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY OF BELL MUNICIPAL MANAGER $152.00 3/1/2002 SubTotal = $1,152
Bell Gardens
BELL GARDENS INSURANCE AGENCY BELL GARDENS $25.00 12/28/2001
BELL GARDENS INSURANCE AGENCY BELL GARDENS $100.00 12/31/2001 SubTotal = $125
Cudahy
GEORGE PEREZ CUDAHY CITY OF CUDAHY CITY MANAGER $250.00 10/12/2001
OSVALDO CONDE CUDAHY CITY OF CUDAHY COUNCIL MEMBER $200.00 12/10/2001
RESIDENTS FOR COUNCILMAN DAVID SILVA CUDAHY $100.00 10/12/2001 SubTotal = $550
Huntington Park
DON CHENTE INC TACOS DON CHENTE HUNTINGTON PARK $300.00 11/29/2001
ERNESTINE MANSOUR HUNTINGTON PARK LAUSD COMMUNITY COORDINATOR $100.00 2/6/2002
LETICIA MICHEL HUNTINGTON PARK TACOS DON CHENTE OFFICE MANAGER $200.00 11/29/2001
RICHARD LOYA HUNTINGTON PARK LOS ANGELES USD TEACHER $200.00 12/10/2001
SOF MANAGEMENT INC.HUNTINGTON PARK $250.00 3/1/2002 SubTotal = $1,050
Maywood
DENNIS AZEVEDO MAYWOOD CITY OF MAYWOOD POLICE OFFICER $125.00 12/28/2001
LOPEZ PROPERTIES MAYWOOD $250.00 2/15/2002
MARIANO LOPEZ MAYWOOD LOPEZ PROPERTIES OWNER $250.00 2/15/2002
MAYWOOD CLUB TOWING MAYWOOD $1,000.00 12/31/2001
SONIA GUERRERO MAYWOOD MAOF EDUCATION $100.00 2/27/2002
SONIA GUERRERO MAYWOOD MAOF EDUCATION $50.00 2/27/2002
SOUTHGATE CAR CARRIER INC MAYWOOD $250.00 12/31/2001 SubTotal = $2,025
South Gate
GABRIEL ALVAREZ SOUTH GATE N/A RETIRED $100.00 1/4/2002
HENRY GONZALEZ SOUTH GATE CITY OF SOUTH GATE COUNCIL MEMBER $500.00 12/31/2001
JOSE MOLINA SOUTH GATE JOSE MOLINA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT $250.00 12/31/2001
JOSE MOLINA SOUTH GATE JOSE MOLINA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT $300.00 2/15/2002
OLGA QUINONES SOUTH GATE US REP BECERRA FIELD STAFF $100.00 10/12/2001
OLGA QUINONES SOUTH GATE US REP BECERRA FIELD STAFF $100.00 2/20/2002
SOUTH GATE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION SOUTH GATE $250.00 12/17/2001
THERESA GONZALEZ SOUTH GATE N/A RETIRED $100.00 12/31/2001
VICTOR CABALLERO SOUTH GATE VICTOR CABALLERO SALES MANAGER $1,000.00 9/30/2001 SubTotal = $2,700
$18,852.00
Beverly Hills
CASDEN PARK LA BREA LLC BEVERLY HILLS $3,000.00 2/15/2002
HI TECH MARKET MANAGEMENT INC BEVERLY HILLS $250.00 12/31/2001
HI TECH MARKET MANAGEMENT INC BEVERLY HILLS $250.00 2/11/2002
HI TECH MARKET MANAGEMENT INC BEVERLY HILLS $500.00 2/15/2002
JOHN CHIANG FOR BOARD OF EQUALIZATION BEVERLY HILLS $950.00 1/29/2002
JOHN CHIANG FOR BOARD OF EQUALIZATION BEVERLY HILLS $200.00 3/26/2002 SubTotal = $5,150
Total contributions to Pedro Carrillo's 2001-02 campaign from southeast cities = $18,852
Bell
BELL TOW SERVICES INC BELL $500.00 2/6/2002
BELL TOW SERVICES INC BELL $300.00 3/1/2002
COMMITTEE TO ELECT GEORGE FRANCIS BASS BELL $500.00 11/15/2001
COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE LOCAL GOV. BELL $1,000.00 9/30/2001
DARRYL ROTH * BELL WESTERN AUTO OF BELL MANAGER $1,000.00 2/5/2002
*(L.A. Times 7-31-01, "Bell's Business Ties to Officials Probed")
GEORGE COLE** BELL OLDTIMERS FOUNDATION CEO $250.00 9/30/2001
**(L.A. Times 8-21-10, "Charity Run by Ex-Bell Mayor didn't disclose Gov. contracts")
GEORGE MIRABAL BELL CITY OF BELL COUNCIL MEMBER $250.00 9/30/2001
R G CONTRUCTION & ENGINEERING INC BELL $300.00 3/1/2002
ROLF JANSSEN BELL LAUSD EDUCATOR $500.00 11/15/2001
SOPP CHEVROLET BELL $1,000.00 12/31/2001
WESTERN GAMING CONSULTANT*** BELL $500.00 11/15/2001 SubTotal = $6,100
***http://articles.latimes.com/1993-12-15/local/me-2034_1_card-club
ROBERT RIZZO HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY OF BELL MUNICIPAL MANAGER $500.00 11/15/2001
ROBERT RIZZO HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY OF BELL MUNICIPAL MANAGER $500.00 2/6/2002
ROBERT RIZZO HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY OF BELL MUNICIPAL MANAGER $152.00 3/1/2002 SubTotal = $1,152
Bell Gardens
BELL GARDENS INSURANCE AGENCY BELL GARDENS $25.00 12/28/2001
BELL GARDENS INSURANCE AGENCY BELL GARDENS $100.00 12/31/2001 SubTotal = $125
Cudahy
GEORGE PEREZ CUDAHY CITY OF CUDAHY CITY MANAGER $250.00 10/12/2001
OSVALDO CONDE CUDAHY CITY OF CUDAHY COUNCIL MEMBER $200.00 12/10/2001
RESIDENTS FOR COUNCILMAN DAVID SILVA CUDAHY $100.00 10/12/2001 SubTotal = $550
Huntington Park
DON CHENTE INC TACOS DON CHENTE HUNTINGTON PARK $300.00 11/29/2001
ERNESTINE MANSOUR HUNTINGTON PARK LAUSD COMMUNITY COORDINATOR $100.00 2/6/2002
LETICIA MICHEL HUNTINGTON PARK TACOS DON CHENTE OFFICE MANAGER $200.00 11/29/2001
RICHARD LOYA HUNTINGTON PARK LOS ANGELES USD TEACHER $200.00 12/10/2001
SOF MANAGEMENT INC.HUNTINGTON PARK $250.00 3/1/2002 SubTotal = $1,050
Maywood
DENNIS AZEVEDO MAYWOOD CITY OF MAYWOOD POLICE OFFICER $125.00 12/28/2001
LOPEZ PROPERTIES MAYWOOD $250.00 2/15/2002
MARIANO LOPEZ MAYWOOD LOPEZ PROPERTIES OWNER $250.00 2/15/2002
MAYWOOD CLUB TOWING MAYWOOD $1,000.00 12/31/2001
SONIA GUERRERO MAYWOOD MAOF EDUCATION $100.00 2/27/2002
SONIA GUERRERO MAYWOOD MAOF EDUCATION $50.00 2/27/2002
SOUTHGATE CAR CARRIER INC MAYWOOD $250.00 12/31/2001 SubTotal = $2,025
South Gate
GABRIEL ALVAREZ SOUTH GATE N/A RETIRED $100.00 1/4/2002
HENRY GONZALEZ SOUTH GATE CITY OF SOUTH GATE COUNCIL MEMBER $500.00 12/31/2001
JOSE MOLINA SOUTH GATE JOSE MOLINA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT $250.00 12/31/2001
JOSE MOLINA SOUTH GATE JOSE MOLINA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT $300.00 2/15/2002
OLGA QUINONES SOUTH GATE US REP BECERRA FIELD STAFF $100.00 10/12/2001
OLGA QUINONES SOUTH GATE US REP BECERRA FIELD STAFF $100.00 2/20/2002
SOUTH GATE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION SOUTH GATE $250.00 12/17/2001
THERESA GONZALEZ SOUTH GATE N/A RETIRED $100.00 12/31/2001
VICTOR CABALLERO SOUTH GATE VICTOR CABALLERO SALES MANAGER $1,000.00 9/30/2001 SubTotal = $2,700
$18,852.00
Beverly Hills
CASDEN PARK LA BREA LLC BEVERLY HILLS $3,000.00 2/15/2002
HI TECH MARKET MANAGEMENT INC BEVERLY HILLS $250.00 12/31/2001
HI TECH MARKET MANAGEMENT INC BEVERLY HILLS $250.00 2/11/2002
HI TECH MARKET MANAGEMENT INC BEVERLY HILLS $500.00 2/15/2002
JOHN CHIANG FOR BOARD OF EQUALIZATION BEVERLY HILLS $950.00 1/29/2002
JOHN CHIANG FOR BOARD OF EQUALIZATION BEVERLY HILLS $200.00 3/26/2002 SubTotal = $5,150
Total contributions to Pedro Carrillo's 2001-02 campaign from southeast cities = $18,852
Bell's Hiring of Felon
Threatens Reopening of
Card Club, State Says
December 15, 1993
JILL GOTTESMAN,
TIMES STAFF WRITER
The city of Bell may have
jeopardized plans to reopen a
troubled poker parlor by hiring as
its monitor of the operation a
former mayor who was convicted
of felony charges stemming from
his hidden interest in the club
years ago, state officials said.
The city last month hired Peter
Werrlein Jr., who managed the
once-thriving California Bell Club
until he pleaded guilty in 1984 to
mail fraud and owning an illegal
gambling business. He served 10
1/2 months in federal prison.
City officials defended their
decision to hire Werrlein, saying
he will discourage illegal
practices--such as money
laundering, skimming and
bad-check cashing--that might
shrink their share of earnings
from the poker club.
"Sure, it sounds crazy," said
Councilman George Cole. "But is
it any crazier than hiring a
convicted burglar to teach people
how to secure their houses
against break-ins? He knows how
to spot loan-sharking, he knows
how to spot skimming, he knows
how to spot rip-offs. . . . "We
want to put in place the toughest
monitoring system in California,"
Cole said.
An official with the California
Department of Justice, which
regulates card clubs, said the
state has not received a licensing
request from the now-closed
enterprise, but expressed concern
about Werrlein's agreement with
the city.
"It raises a red flag for us," said
N. Whitt Murray, an investigator
with the department. "I don't
know why the city would take the
risk."
The 75-table poker parlor,
located in a warehouse district off
the Long Beach Freeway, has
been closed for 18 months.
Bell last month finalized plans
with Los Angeles-based California
Bell Casino, a two-man
partnership, to reopen it
sometime next year. Werrlein's
company, Western Gaming
Associates, was hired to oversee
the millions of dollars in cash that
city officials expect will flow
through the club each year.
Under the agreement, Werrlein,
who owns a Western Auto store in
Bell, will be paid 15% of the city's
revenues the first year and 10%
in subsequent years. Werrlein will
have three employees who will be
paid from that share, according to
his contract.
California law prohibits convicted
felons only from owning or
operating card clubs. But Murray
said state officials could require
Werrlein to apply for a license, as
well, in his capacity as a
consultant.
"If he has any management
responsibility, he would have to
apply for a gaming permit," the
state investigator said. "And,
based on his record, he would not
be (approved)."
City officials and the club's new
owners insisted that Werrlein will
have no say in how the operation
is run. Werrlein said he is the
best choice for the job because
the poker parlor was at its most
lucrative when he was running it in
the early 1980s.
"The controls were in place and
there was no mishandling of
funds," he said. "When I was in
the club, when I controlled and
ran it, the city got more than $10
million (in three years) and it got
every penny and never got
cheated."
Threatens Reopening of
Card Club, State Says
December 15, 1993
JILL GOTTESMAN,
TIMES STAFF WRITER
The city of Bell may have
jeopardized plans to reopen a
troubled poker parlor by hiring as
its monitor of the operation a
former mayor who was convicted
of felony charges stemming from
his hidden interest in the club
years ago, state officials said.
The city last month hired Peter
Werrlein Jr., who managed the
once-thriving California Bell Club
until he pleaded guilty in 1984 to
mail fraud and owning an illegal
gambling business. He served 10
1/2 months in federal prison.
City officials defended their
decision to hire Werrlein, saying
he will discourage illegal
practices--such as money
laundering, skimming and
bad-check cashing--that might
shrink their share of earnings
from the poker club.
"Sure, it sounds crazy," said
Councilman George Cole. "But is
it any crazier than hiring a
convicted burglar to teach people
how to secure their houses
against break-ins? He knows how
to spot loan-sharking, he knows
how to spot skimming, he knows
how to spot rip-offs. . . . "We
want to put in place the toughest
monitoring system in California,"
Cole said.
An official with the California
Department of Justice, which
regulates card clubs, said the
state has not received a licensing
request from the now-closed
enterprise, but expressed concern
about Werrlein's agreement with
the city.
"It raises a red flag for us," said
N. Whitt Murray, an investigator
with the department. "I don't
know why the city would take the
risk."
The 75-table poker parlor,
located in a warehouse district off
the Long Beach Freeway, has
been closed for 18 months.
Bell last month finalized plans
with Los Angeles-based California
Bell Casino, a two-man
partnership, to reopen it
sometime next year. Werrlein's
company, Western Gaming
Associates, was hired to oversee
the millions of dollars in cash that
city officials expect will flow
through the club each year.
Under the agreement, Werrlein,
who owns a Western Auto store in
Bell, will be paid 15% of the city's
revenues the first year and 10%
in subsequent years. Werrlein will
have three employees who will be
paid from that share, according to
his contract.
California law prohibits convicted
felons only from owning or
operating card clubs. But Murray
said state officials could require
Werrlein to apply for a license, as
well, in his capacity as a
consultant.
"If he has any management
responsibility, he would have to
apply for a gaming permit," the
state investigator said. "And,
based on his record, he would not
be (approved)."
City officials and the club's new
owners insisted that Werrlein will
have no say in how the operation
is run. Werrlein said he is the
best choice for the job because
the poker parlor was at its most
lucrative when he was running it in
the early 1980s.
"The controls were in place and
there was no mishandling of
funds," he said. "When I was in
the club, when I controlled and
ran it, the city got more than $10
million (in three years) and it got
every penny and never got
cheated."
"Sheriff's deputies found
gambling equipment in the
Running Springs mountain home
of Pete Werrlein, of Huntington
Beach, while investigating a
tripped burglar alarm." (photo
courtesy of Press-Enterprise)
gambling equipment in the
Running Springs mountain home
of Pete Werrlein, of Huntington
Beach, while investigating a
tripped burglar alarm." (photo
courtesy of Press-Enterprise)
Bell city manager Pedro Carrillo invites
State Controller John Chiang to audit
Bell's books. Arm over shoulder and
shaking other hand is a sign of
friendship supported by campaign
contributions from Chiang to Carrillo
totaling $1,150 in 2002.
State Controller John Chiang to audit
Bell's books. Arm over shoulder and
shaking other hand is a sign of
friendship supported by campaign
contributions from Chiang to Carrillo
totaling $1,150 in 2002.
| Friday September 3, 2010, 1:00 pm The Editor, WatchOurCity.com Pedro Carrillo violated FPPC regulations by hiding identity of campaign Donor Pete Werrlein, a Robert Rizzo associate and former Bell Councilman convicted of a felony while in office, who's Western Auto property was purchased by the city Bell in 2006 and is the subject of an Attorney General investigation, donated to Pedro Carrillo's campaign. The identity of Pete Werrlein was hidden by Pedro Carrillo in his 2002 campaign filing statement Bell, CA - Pedro Carrillo, Bell's newly appointed city manager, is in violation of campaign filing requirements of the Political Reform Act, which is enforced by the Fair Political Practices Commission. Roman Porter, Executive Director of the Fair Political Practices Commission, stated to WatchOurCity.com that he "could not comment on specific situations, but typically full disclosure of campaign contributor's full name is required by law and each violation of the Political Reform Act is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000." Pedro Carrillo, a Robert Rizzo aid, is the city manager appointed by Bell city council members in the wake of Robert Rizzo's resignation after egregious salary and benefits, taxes, loans, pensions, bonds, utility taxes and other irregularities were exposed in the city of Bell. It was puzzling why the discredited Bell city council would appoint someone with no municipal management experience. Pedro Carrillo was working as a Rizzo aid in Bell when the Times broke the story about Rizzo. It was Carrillo and Bell mayor Oscar Hernandez who defended Robert Rizzo's nauseating salary before live TV cameras. On August 24, 2010, WatchOurCity.com posted an investigative report on campaign contributors to Pedro Carrillo's 2002 State Assembly race, noting that Bell elected officials donated more to Carrillo's campaign than all other southeast cities combined. Those donors included Robert Rizzo (who donated on three different occasions), and George Cole who donated under two occasions. This raises many red flags. One donor in particular, from Bell, was only identified as "Western Gaming Consultant". No other identifying information was given. WatchOurCity.com noted that Western Gaming is a two-man company run by former Bell councilman Pete Werrlein, who was convicted of a felony and served time in federal prison, then, after his release was hired as a consultant for the city of Bell by Robert Rizzo and George Cole to help manage a Bell Card Club then in operation. Mr. Porter of the FPPC stated that unless there is a local city ordinance in place, that there is no state regulation, certainly not by the FPPC, prohibiting convicted felons from donating to political campaigns. However, there is a regulation that they be identified. Pete Werrlein was not identified by Carrillo in his filing statements. And this is the evident violation. That violation carries additional baggage in that Pete Werrlein and the city of Bell are under investigation by the Attorney General's office for a property purchase transaction of about $5 million dollars between those two parties. According to the FPPC's Roman Porter, any violations of FPPC campaign filing requirements have a five year statute of limitations. Pedro Carrillo's campaign filing was submitted in 2002, which is beyond the five year period for any action. However, the filings are submitted under "penalty of perjury". If Carrillo knowingly took money from a donor and did not identify the donor as is required, then the FPPC allows a 60-day period under which a questionable donation can be rejected by the candidate or the funds returned to the donor. The penalty for such a violation is $5,000 per incident. According to Roman Porter, if the Statute of Limitations has expired, but an egregious violation is still valid exists, then the State Attorney General can decide to investigate and prosecute based on the "penalty of perjury" clause as submitted by the candidate, in this case, Carrillo. The Attorney General's office rarely pursues prosecution for FPPC violations, unless circumstances are egregious and are unusual. In Pedro Carrillo's case, the circumstances are a confluence of egregious and unusual in light of the Attorney General's own investigations into Bell's fiduciary fails, which Pedro Carrillo himself defended as a Robert Rizzo aid, now as Bell city manager. At a community meeting on Wednesday where Pedro Carrillo was the invited guest, along with city attorney James Casso, an audience member asked Carrillo about the campaign contributions received from Bell elected officials. Carrillo responded that he didn't remember, stating that it was "such a long time ago", and added that he's "moved on from those times". |
