In a recent case in federal court in California, a self-described “Godfather” of Camp Pendleton has been charged with accepting bribes on a flooring contract at the Camp. In United States v. Cervantes, No. 13-CR-01345 (C.D. Cal. filed Mar. 29, 2013) (see copy of Complaint here), the Defendant allegedly accepted a $40,000 bribe in connection with a $4 million flooring contract.
According to the complaint, an undercover cooperating witness informed the government that Cervantes was extorting bribes in his role as Facilities Support Contracts Manager at Camp Pendleton. The witness stated that he or she (the complaint is gender neutral to protect the cooperating witness) gave Cervantes $25,000 related to two different contracts, agreed to hire Cervantes’ granddaughter as an administrative assistant for $16 per hour, and also performed work on Cervantes’ downtown condominium at his request. Cervantes told the witness, “I am referred to as the ‘Godfather’ at Camp Pendleton.”
The witness then agreed to wear a “buttonhole audio/video recording device” when he or she met with Cervantes to talk about paying a $40,000 bribe in exchange for Cervantes’ assistance in obtaining a $4 million contract at Camp Pendleton. They agreed that the witness would pay $20,000 now and $20,000 after the award of the contract. They also agreed to meet at the Churchill Cigar Lounge in San Diego for the witness to pay the funds. At the lounge, the witness gave Cervantes an envelope “decorated with a garden scene” that had $20,000 in it. After the meeting was over, law enforcement arrested Cervantes, who threw the flowery envelope on the ground. The envelope was recovered.
The case is still in the complaint phase (the Defendant agreed to proceed on an Information rather than an indictment) and the Defendant has a hearing in this matter on May 10, 2013. If the allegations are proven in Court or a guilty plea is obtained, the Godfather of Camp Pendleton may become the Godfather of a federal penitentiary.
Brian Stolarz is the attorney responsible for the content of this article.