A sweeping public corruption case tied to a former San Gabriel Valley elected official came to light after FBI agents discovered $62,900 in cash hidden in his backyard.
Former Baldwin Park Councilman Ricardo Pacheco, 63, was sentenced this week to 18 months in federal prison for his involvement in the bribery scheme, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
In addition to the prison term, Pacheco was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and forfeit nearly $220,000.
Federal prosecutors said the case also involved former Compton Councilman Jacob Galvan, 39, who received the same 18-month prison sentence and was ordered to pay $323,557 in restitution.
According to the DOJ, the two men took part in “corrupt acts while they were elected officials,” including the exchange of tens of thousands of dollars in bribes connected to police union backing and efforts to secure city permits for marijuana cultivation.
Pacheco served on the Baldwin Park City Council from 1997 until 2020 and briefly held the role of mayor pro tem in 2018. He pleaded guilty to a federal corruption charge in June 2020.
As part of his plea, Pacheco admitted taking thousands of dollars in bribes, including a $20,000 cash payment from a Baldwin Park police officer who was secretly cooperating with the FBI.
Federal officials said that from January through October 2018, Pacheco solicited and accepted a total of $37,900 from the undercover officer.
“The police officer who made the payments did so at the direction of the FBI after another officer and he approached the FBI and agreed to assist in its ongoing corruption investigation,” the DOJ said
“In exchange for the payments, Pacheco voted in favor of the Police Association contract in March 2018.” The contract was worth at least $4.4 million over three years.
Pacheco later became a federal informant, helping investigators take down a half-dozen figures tied to the marijuana industry and local government, the LA Times reported.
As part of his plea deal, Pacheco resigned from the council and forfeited $83,145 seized by the FBI — including the $62,900 buried in two spots in his backyard.
Galvan, who served on the Compton council from 2013 to 2022, admitted paying Pacheco $70,000 in bribes in exchange for his “votes and support for commercial marijuana permits,” according to the DOJ.
Galvan also admitted failing to report more than $500,000 in income to the IRS.
The corruption began taking shape in 2017, when Baldwin Park started seeking approval for marijuana cultivation, manufacturing and distribution within city limits, prosecutors said.
Pacheco began soliciting bribes from businesses seeking marijuana development agreements and permits, while Galvan acted as a “consultant” who connected marijuana operators with the councilman.
“In exchange for the illicit payments, Pacheco agreed to use his position in city government to assist the companies with obtaining marijuana permits, including voting in their favor.”
Pacheco’s restitution hearing is scheduled for the coming weeks.
