Former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka.
By Jack Leonard and Richard Winton
May 13, 2015
Federal authorities are expected to announce indictments Thursday against former Los Angeles County Undersheriff Paul Tanaka and a retired sheriff’s captain in the ongoing investigation into excessive force and corruption in the county’s jails, according to sources familiar with the probe.
Tanaka and former Capt. William “Tom” Carey are expected to surrender early Thursday.
The indictments would come as federal prosecutors appear to be setting their sights on the upper echelons of former Sheriff Lee Baca’s department after already charging mostly low-level officials in the case. Baca abruptly stepped down last year, not long after those first charges were filed.
The federal investigation originated with allegations of brutality and corruption against jail deputies. It branched off into obstruction of justice after sheriff’s officials found a cellphone that had been smuggled into jail to an inmate working as an FBI informant.
The officials were accused of hiding the inmate informant under various aliases and threatening an FBI agent with arrest.
One former deputy, Gilbert Michel, pleaded guilty to bribery in connection with his smuggling the phone into Men’s Central Jail. Another pleaded guilty to constructing an illegal firearm.
To read entire story, click here.
LMAO!!!! All those dumbasses that voted for this clown.
Karma got the little asshole. ALL the careers he destroyed while building his regime.
I heard Lee Baca was at a public ceremony at the new Hall of Justice recently. Sitting in the front row with some other old crooks.
NOT one person speaking even acknowledge his presence. Got to LOVE the crony politicians and their brotherhood.
Baca has got to be next for the upcoming drama of “drop your soap”.
McMahon pay attention. You do not have near the clout Baca had. In fact you are nothing. You could be next.
Say hello to your friend and campaign contributer Tanaka. I heard he was one of your good friends. Two jokes. Haha
No comparison between McMahon and Baca. Don’t get your hopes up people. Two completely different incidents and handled two different ways. But keep on wishing! If you don’t beleive me, ask our friend Paul Schrader. Being in a “management” position with LASD as he claimed, he certainly had to know the inner workings of all the LASD jail problems in the last 20 years. But he also claimed to have been shot in the line of duty. I wish you all a blessed day.
James you never seem to know anything. McMahon needs to pay attention.
SCHRADER would make a better sheriff than John boy.
That’s why you fall silent on the inner workings of management huh Joe?
Once the facts come out you go deaf and dumb.
I wish you a sober day.
If the FBI LOOKS at the officer involved shootings in the last 3 years, see the obvious cover ups and prosecutions that should or could have taken place McMahon might be toast.
If the FBI looks at the gang banger shot in the neck and Mike Ramos’s attempt to cover for McMahon there might be a problem.
I guess Joe didn’t figure maybe ONE of those Civil Rights attorney’s getting rich MIGHT have a golden nugget to give the Feds.
If the FBI looks at the POST scandal McMahon and Ramos might have a problem. The Feds just need to start with the Grays, the rest should be easy.
IF Joe Henry had watched the news conference today with the U.S. attorney on this matter, and knew half of what he thinks he knows he might have seen a few red flags for his beloved leader.
If the Feds read this blog they already know who to go see and where to look.
Oh wait I forgot the Feds have already been in this county on 4 other public corruption probes with only ONE actual prosecution by their office. That joint task force crap.
The biggest probe going no where and a Federal employee being re-assigned.
And finally it ONLY takes one employee or manager to break ranks and BOOM!!!
Maybe Joe Henry would like to tell us EVERYONE in management is tight right now and ALL on the same page?
John McMahon doesn’t have the political savvy of Baca and Tenaka. He proved that in the Bauer matter.
When a little ol rank and file employee can and did put the smack down on you, a team of experienced investigators will have a field day with you.
Blah blah blah. The Feds will and should investigate any alleged “cover-up” by McMahon. Let’s make a deal. If McMahon gets indicted for anything then you can say you were right. These experienced investigators didn’t let one slide by. But, if he doesn’t get indicted for anything then one must logically assume there is no evidence to support such an indictment. So, any wagers out there? Kenny continues to spout only bits and pieces of various stories and incidents to reflect his own personal agenda. Those who know Kenny know this to be true. It’s actually quite simple, you can’t indict a sheriff because Kenny’s little selective investigate prowess alleged a cover-up. Wagers? Anybody??
This is very interesting. Joe raises his head and takes little cheap shots that have no merit. Facts come out and he goes away.
It’s very true that McMahon couldn’t make a bump on Baca’s bum. He was a political power house and very respected.
In SB County McMahon was given his position and it was not earned. No one in the state thinks he is a leader or an innovator.
If the FBI goes after him, we will see the sad fish he is.
If Mills represents leadership at SBSD that’s a telling sign of followers who cannot think outside the box. Losers that are afraid and weak.
Watching this play out will make McMahon think about the Hoops option which is get the hell out. It might be too late.
Tanaka will be exonerated after all the facts are revealed, defense lawyer H. Dean Steward said
I seem to remember those were the same words out of JP’s attorney. It must be some sort of training they receive in law school.
Joe Henry still waiting for ANY specific war story you care to share about me that even comes close to the corrupt shit you attempt to defend.
Let’s make a wager? LOL!!! You would simply go into hiding like you do now when things get to hot.
The only thing you have to wager is a autographed picture of you and Bill Clinton.
iF the Feds ONLY look at the Jail and Apple Valley incident the worst that will happen is federal oversight. Still a BLACK eye for what YOU cheerleaders call a GOOD leader.
If your suggesting McMahon could get a GOOD leader report card in the end let me LMAO!!!!!
I am not sure why you think the leadership of SBSD is so sharp. One just has to read your comments and see it wont be difficult to make the case.
So Joe tell us a good story of a prosecution you handled where you defeted a attorney like Michael Schwartz?
A defendant who had ALL their teeth and graduated High School.
I’ll tell you a war story or two Kenny when you find a job you can be sucessfull at. A has been that never should have been. God bless you Kenny.
LOL Sarge right after H. Dean Steward made that statement he handed Tenaka a bill for $500.00 bucks.
One just has to have listened to Tenaka’s previous interviews and testimony in this case, and know he is screwed.
Tenaka was promoted to Sergeant with only 5 years on the job and ONLY 1 year of patrol and NO Detective experience.
Baca got promoted to Sergeant at 4 years on the job with only 1 year patrol and little investigative experience.
Compare that to some of those around here you can see why they don’t do so well when dealing with anyone with more experience.
Like many it was ASSUMED they were smart from the TITLE in front of their name.
Like anywhere others were suppose to do the real work to make them look good and be rewarded later.
Example would be that Captain indicted with Tenaka.
Oh that was good Joe. You’ll do well on the witness stand.
Joe, Karl Denninger has an interesting piece on his blog concerning policing problems. You might want to read it, to get a feel for the average American opinion of law-enforcement.
Link:
http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=230140
Spot on article Sarge.
And as LE administrators continue to throw their own under the bus as we have seen around here even some of the dummer cops will wake up.
I’d love to talk to those 10 cops in the Apple Valley incident to see how the “brotherhood” is working out for them right now.
Anyone like some Kool-aid?
Bye Bye