BS Ranch Perspective
It seems that Jose Gonzales was in on this bribery case and turned these two in for this, however It just makes me wonder if Jose Gonzales turned these two brothers into the authorities because they were just to carefree about the way that they came about the bribery. The regular people use the Donation to ones Campaign in order to get what on wants regarding a Favor From a Candidate. It seems that their willingness to give her the $15,000.00 up front scared Jose and she figured that they better notify the authorities. But how does she know that It was a Bribe and not a Campaign Donation, Yes it is true that they can only donate a small amount of $2300 But these Two Brothers didn't know the limit in which they could Donate to ones campaign. he he!!
Now Brothers, are one to work towards one goal, but I know if I had $15,000.00 laying around I certainly would not allow it to go to some politician for any kind of Work Permit, Planning Permit or anything!! That money would be seen better spent working on my wife's New Car, or Fixing up my house which I am having trouble doing because of the cost!!
I am happy knowing that Jose Gonzales turned these two clowns in for their attempt at such a Stupid Bribery event that has now stopped their lives from being free to build the thing that they wanted to build. I hope that the book is thrown at them and they get a great amount of time, and example should be set.
Jose I don't know if you earned my vote just yet, but your gaining my confidence about you!!
BS Ranch
Brothers charged with bribing a San Bernardino official
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The men allegedly gave the county supervisor's chief of staff an envelope with $15,000 in cash during a meeting to discuss a construction and development project.
San Bernardino County prosecutors charged two brothers with bribery Thursday after they allegedly slipped an envelope containing $15,000 in cash to the chief of staff for county Supervisor Josie Gonzales.
Arshak Kouladjian, 53, of Glendale and Vartan Kouladjian, 45, of Pasadena pleaded not guilty in a San Bernardino County courtroom Thursday to a single count each of felony bribery of a ministerial officer.
Attorney Mark Geragos, who is representing the brothers, said his clients were "upstanding members of the community and successful businessmen."
"Everyone who knows them was shocked by the charges," Geragos said. "We look forward to sitting down and talking with the district attorney about this matter."
The brothers were arrested Wednesday and initially held in lieu of $500,000 bail each, authorities said. A judge later reduced their bail to $100,000 apiece and ordered the men to surrender their passports.
The San Bernardino County district attorney's Public Integrity Unit opened an investigation into the Kouladjians in October after Gonzales' office alerted prosecutors of inappropriate overtures, said San Bernardino County Deputy Dist. Atty. John Goritz.
Prosecutors said the Kouladjians arranged a meeting Jan. 3 with Gonzales' chief of staff, Bob Page, to discuss the construction and development of an auto salvage and auction business in Bloomington.
During the meeting, Vartan Kouladjian "gave Mr. Page an envelope that contained cash in the amount of $15,000," Goritz said.
The charges filed this week were the culmination of a four-month investigation that began when Page first reported concerns about what he believed were inappropriate overtures by Arshak Kouladjian, according to a statement released Thursday by Gonzales.
"It deeply saddens me, and angers me, that anyone would think bribery would be tolerated in San Bernardino County," said Gonzales, supervisor of the 5th District. "It is unfortunate that in the past there have been situations involving corruption. However, that was 10 years ago."
The decade-old public-corruption cases Gonzales referred to were covered by Page, who at the time was a newspaper reporter. Gonzales said that during Page's journalism career at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and the San Bernardino Sun, he wrote about criminal corruption cases involving former county administrators James Hlawek and Harry Mays. Page began working for the county a little more than six years ago.
Hlawek and Mays pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 1999. Hlawek was sentenced to three years' probation and community service starting November 2005. Mays served two years in prison.
"The Kouladjian brothers were grossly mistaken if they thought my office was for sale," Gonzales said in her statement.
She said since June 2006, two of the Kouladjians' companies have contributed $35,500 to her campaign coffers. She said she plans to donate that amount to community organizations in Bloomington.
Citing the criminal investigation, prosecutors declined to reveal specifics of the meeting between the Kouladjians and Page but said they monitored contacts between the parties.
andrew.blankstein@ latimes.com
Arshak Kouladjian, 53, of Glendale and Vartan Kouladjian, 45, of Pasadena pleaded not guilty in a San Bernardino County courtroom Thursday to a single count each of felony bribery of a ministerial officer.
Attorney Mark Geragos, who is representing the brothers, said his clients were "upstanding members of the community and successful businessmen."
"Everyone who knows them was shocked by the charges," Geragos said. "We look forward to sitting down and talking with the district attorney about this matter."
The brothers were arrested Wednesday and initially held in lieu of $500,000 bail each, authorities said. A judge later reduced their bail to $100,000 apiece and ordered the men to surrender their passports.
The San Bernardino County district attorney's Public Integrity Unit opened an investigation into the Kouladjians in October after Gonzales' office alerted prosecutors of inappropriate overtures, said San Bernardino County Deputy Dist. Atty. John Goritz.
Prosecutors said the Kouladjians arranged a meeting Jan. 3 with Gonzales' chief of staff, Bob Page, to discuss the construction and development of an auto salvage and auction business in Bloomington.
During the meeting, Vartan Kouladjian "gave Mr. Page an envelope that contained cash in the amount of $15,000," Goritz said.
The charges filed this week were the culmination of a four-month investigation that began when Page first reported concerns about what he believed were inappropriate overtures by Arshak Kouladjian, according to a statement released Thursday by Gonzales.
"It deeply saddens me, and angers me, that anyone would think bribery would be tolerated in San Bernardino County," said Gonzales, supervisor of the 5th District. "It is unfortunate that in the past there have been situations involving corruption. However, that was 10 years ago."
The decade-old public-corruption cases Gonzales referred to were covered by Page, who at the time was a newspaper reporter. Gonzales said that during Page's journalism career at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and the San Bernardino Sun, he wrote about criminal corruption cases involving former county administrators James Hlawek and Harry Mays. Page began working for the county a little more than six years ago.
Hlawek and Mays pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 1999. Hlawek was sentenced to three years' probation and community service starting November 2005. Mays served two years in prison.
"The Kouladjian brothers were grossly mistaken if they thought my office was for sale," Gonzales said in her statement.
She said since June 2006, two of the Kouladjians' companies have contributed $35,500 to her campaign coffers. She said she plans to donate that amount to community organizations in Bloomington.
Citing the criminal investigation, prosecutors declined to reveal specifics of the meeting between the Kouladjians and Page but said they monitored contacts between the parties.
andrew.blankstein@ latimes.com
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