COMMUNITY SPORTS
CRIME SUMMARY
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VOL. 1, NO. 51
LA MIRADA, CA., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012
ASSESSOR NOGUEZ, TWO OTHERS ARRESTED trict Attorney’s Office of Public Integrity went to the Olive Street home of Noguez in Huntington Park to arrest him early Wednesday morning, Noguez answered the front door wearing a pair of sleeping shorts and a t-shirt. After be-
LCCN Investigation Culminates With Arrests By Randy Economy and Brian Hews randy@cerritosnews.net publisher@cerritosnews.net
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County Assessor John Noguez, Property Tax Agent Ramin Salari and Major Property Appraiser Mark McNeil were arrested on Wednesday in a massive political corruption scheme District Attorney Steve Cooley called the “biggest political corruption case” in the forty years as a professional criminal prosecutor. Noguez, Mc Neil and Salari are being accused of engaging in an elaborate and complex conspiracy to slash property values and save millions in
BRIAN HEWS PHOTO
Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and other key prosecutors respond to a question from LCCN Reporter Randy Economy at Wednesday's Press Conference after the arrest of Noguez, Salari, and McNeil.
property taxes to help Salari’s clients. Los Cerritos/Lamplighter Newspaper was the first media outlet in Southern California to disclose information about the “pay-to-play” scheme. Cooley said the arrests and charges are part of a continu-
ing investigation into public corruption at the Assessor’s Office. Noguez, who announced he would take a leave of absence in June, returned to work briefly before going out on an indefinite medical leave. When members of the Dis-
La Mirada’s Infrastructure Plan Moves Forward City News Service The City is stepping up plans to repair more than $20-million in infrastructure in the current fiscal year. This amount is significantly higher than prior years. As the economy stabilizes after the “Great Recession,” the City plans to spend down capital project reserve funds, as construction prices remain favorable in the current economic environment. However, once these funds are spent, limited funding will be available to complete future infrastructure repairs. A recent engineering review of La Mirada’s infrastructure identified more than $67 million in infrastruc-
ture needs for streets, sewers, storm drains, traffic signals, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, bridges, and access ramps. A significant portion of this year’s Capital Projects Budget is dedicated to work identified in the engineer’s report. “These improvements will help correct some of the worst conditions found in La Mirada’s streets according to engineering studies,” says Public Works Director Steve Forster. “These projects will be occurring throughout La Mirada with several projects going at the same time.” Funding for $4,495,966 in street repair work is budgeted for streets rated
[See INFRASTRUCTURE page 7]
CORRUPTION BY THE NUMBERS JUAN REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ aka: John Noguez 13 Counts of Embezzlement 5 Counts of Perjury 4 Counts of Soliciting Bribes 2 Counts of Conspiracy to Misappropriate Funds
Cooley: ‘Biggest Political Corruption Case In County History’ ing allowed to change clothes, the Assessor of the nation’s largest property tax collecting agency was handcuffed, and escorted to the back seat of an unmarked Sheriff’s car. Noguez was taken to a County jail facility in Downtown Los Angeles where he was fingerprinted, had his mug shot taken, processed,
[See NOGUEZ page 9]
RAMIN SALARI 13 Counts of Embezzlement 8 Counts of Bribing an Executive Officer 2 Counts of Conspiracy
MARK McNEIL 13 Counts of Embezzlement 2 Counts of Conspiracy to Misappropriate Funds
LOS CERRITOS/LAMPLIGHTER NEWSPAPER
Over 50 Investigative Articles Published Over 3,000 Interviews Conducted With Sources Over 3,000 Emails Obtained Between Noguez, Salari, and Property Tax Agents, Assessor Staff 139 Visits to the LA County Hall of Administration, LA County Government Offices
Norwalk-La Mirada School Board Recognizes Outstanding Students By Rina Magsombol The Norwalk-La Mirada School District strives to recognize all students who contrubute to their respective schools. Such was the case at this past Tuesday’s Board meeting John Glenn High School theater company, The Thespian Group, was recognized for their performance of “Children of Lesser God,” and being the top oneact show in their state at the National
Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska. Greg Puccia, John Glenn High School’s Principal warmed up the crowd for the stunningly-talented group of 12 students by introducing their instructor, Pat McLoy. The proud instructor introduced 12 of the students that evening in front of school board officials, their friends and family as well as PTA members.
[See STUDENTS page 7]
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