Photos show L.A. building inspectors caught taking bribes, prosecutors allege

Authorities have released several photos allegedly showing elements of an elaborate bribery case involving two Los Angeles city building inspectors accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for approving and fast-tracking construction projects.

FBI agents arrested Hugo Joel Gonzalez, 49, of Eagle Rock and Raoul Joseph Germain, 59, of Altadena after an investigation that began with a tip from a confidential informant last summer.

The informant, a work site manager for a large residential property developer, was a participant in the sting operation, working with an undercover agent who posed as a contractor named "Manny Gonzalez."

Hugo Gonzalez accepted $9,000 in bribes from the undercover agent and informant, while Germain took $6,000 from the agent during the investigation, according to affidavits filed with the criminal complaints.

Read the full report on the alleged bribes here.

-- Abby Sewell and David Zahniser

Photos: Federal prosecutors allege photos, at top and middle, show Raoul Joseph Germain taking a bribe. Third photo is of property that one of the alleged bribes involved. Credit: FBI

Comments

[johnnik1]

They need to come here to Orange County..Makes L.A. look like pre-school. Ever wonder how an inspector on 45k a year salary, can live here in Orange County at his $645,000 house?

[JZ]

Although the inspectors have their share of corrupt workers, the one who should without a doubt be jailed for corruption is Viilariagosa.
If you look up the word corruption if the dictionary, you will probably see villariagosa's smiling picture.

[US Times]

You're right. If you check out the homes of the OC city councils and their respective city management, they all live in million dollar homes in the OC.

Building inspectors and city staffers are paid off all over. Now we just need to get some good journalists on these stories nationwide.

[bossldy]

Every time there is corruption, hispanics are always involved,,Bell PD, Sheriff's Dept, LAPD, City Workers, Mayor etc,,,the list goes on. I thought you needed a
degree to be in these positions..I believe most of the involved individuals only have these positions because of their sir names not their education. Check their transcripts

[007]

its funny how the inspectors are getting all the blame here....how about the builder, with all the shortcuts taken to pay off the inspectors are the buildings safe to live in, where they built properly to building code standards, or did the builder leave out critical components to make more profit ??????

[Mary Masi, Los Angeles Lawyer]

Photos show inspectors ALLEGEDLY accepting bribes.

[Jose A. Guillen]

In reply to bossdly comment which is racist against hispanics, corruption come in all shapes and sizes and of course Race . It is not always hispanics look at how many so called qualified american inspectors with degrees, over see things in construction projects maybe not intentionally but. It narrows down to qualified and being honest and having moral and principles.