Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

KPCC Archive

Authorities seize computers, files as part of corruption probe into Moreno Valley leaders

Authorities have seized computers and files from the Riverside County homes of the City of Moreno Valley mayor and council members. From left to right: Moreno Valley city council members Victoria Baca, Marcelo Co, Mayor Tom Owings, and Moreno Valley city council members Jesse L. Molina and Richard A. Stewart.
Authorities have seized computers and files from the Riverside County homes of the City of Moreno Valley mayor and council members. From left to right: Moreno Valley city council members Victoria Baca, Marcelo Co, Mayor Tom Owings, and Moreno Valley city council members Jesse L. Molina and Richard A. Stewart.
(
Courtesy City of Moreno Valley
)

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today . 

Authorities have raided the homes of Moreno Valley's mayor and City Council members in a corruption probe.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise says a task force of federal and local agents served search warrants Tuesday on the homes of Mayor Tom Owings, all four of the other council members and a real estate agent. They also raided a developer's office near city hall.

Files and computers were seized.

Michael Moriarty, chief investigator with the Riverside County district attorney's office, tells KABC-TV the raids involved a criminal investigation of possible influence-peddling, campaign violations and political corruption.

Support for LAist comes from

No arrests were made.

A call left at City Hall seeking comment from the mayor and council members wasn't immediately returned.

However, Councilman Jesse Molina tells the Press-Enterprise that he's done nothing wrong.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist