Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/20/2012 12:11:17 PM PDT
A San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Friday lifted bail for four defendants in the Colonies Partners corruption scandal, freeing them from having to pay an annual bond premium as the one-year anniversary of their arrest nears.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 20 April 2012 11:42 AM
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge agreed Friday to lift bail for three former county officials and a developer facing corruption charges.
Judge Michael Smith agreed to allow the four men to remain free on their own recognizance as the case continues to remain in the pre-trial stage almost a year after the defendants were indicted.
Ryan Carter, Staff Writer
Created: 03/28/2012 07:23:04 PM PDT
Attorneys for developer Colonies Partners LP are seeking dismissal of a civil lawsuit that would force the developer to pay back a $102 million legal settlement to taxpayers.
BY RICHARD K. De ATLEY
STAFF WRITER
rdeatley@pe.com
Published: 16 March 2012 08:03 PM
Attorneys for Colonies case figure Jeffrey Burum have filed a motion that seeks to force prosecutors to hand over all material that could include evidence helpful to Burum in his defense.
The motion is necessary, defense attorney Stephen G. Larson said in the document, because he believes there is evidence that the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office has not been handing over all such material in a timely way to the defense, despite several requests to do so.
By Joe Nelson
Created: 03/16/2012 10:56:10 AM PDT
Defense attorneys in a far-reaching San Bernardino County corruption case are seeking a court order to compel prosecutors to provide information on communications they have had with two key defendants in the case.
Attorney Stephen Larson, attorney for Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum, filed a motion Thursday in San Bernardino Superior Court alleging prosecutors have been nonresponsive and holding out.
By Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/10/2012 03:03:31 PM PST
An admission by former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus to federal authorities that he used methamphetamine dozens of times in 2011 has a defense attorney in a far-reaching county corruption case questioning the tactics of prosecutors.
The admission came during an Oct. 14 interview with assistant U.S. attorneys Jerry Behnke and Joseph Widman and FBI agent Jonathan Zeitlin, when Postmus told the trio what he knew about an alleged corruption scandal state and local prosecutors are calling the biggest in county history.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/16/2012 04:26:55 PM PST
The trajectory of a sweeping San Bernardino County corruption case hinges on how a state appellate court rules.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/15/2012 12:14:24 PM PST
Legislation that aims to discourage corruption by elected officials’ staff members by denying them public pension benefits if they’re criminally convicted has been introduced by Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucaipa.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 13 February 2012 09:50 PM
In an FBI interview former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus said he did not view a $100,000 campaign contribution from Colonies Partners as a bribe even though he expected to receive funds following a lawsuit settlement.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 10 February 2012 07:59 PM
Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the Colonies corruption case continued to haggle over evidence in San Bernardino County Superior Court Friday, with both sides saying they are continuing to make progress in turning over documents as part of the discovery process.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/08/2012 06:05:39 PM PST
In an October interview with federal authorities, former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus said he did not consider a $100,000 campaign contribution from Colonies Partners LP a bribe.
Postmus’ statement, from an interview transcript obtained by The Sun, appears to contradict his guilty plea to charges of conspiracy and bribery in state court, where prosecutors contend campaign contributions to political action committees were part of a conspiracy by Colonies to secure a huge settlement to a land-rights dispute with the county.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 02/07/2012 12:45:19 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – An attorney has filed a lawsuit seeking reimbursement for taxpayers of the $102 million settlement made by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in 2006 with Rancho Cucamonga-based developers Colonies Partners LP.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 06 January 2012 11:19 AM
Defense attorneys in the Colonies corruption case announced in court Friday morning they are seeking records from an influential union representing public safety employees.
Attorneys are also seeking additional records from the county flood control district concerning its four-year legal battle with Colonies Partners.
Joe Nelson and Mike Cruz, Staff Writers
Posted: 01/06/2012 01:08:11 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – Defense attorneys in a San Bernardino County corruption case are requesting documents from a public safety labor union they believe will help refute allegations of blackmail against a Rancho Cucamonga developer and the union’s former president.
By Mark Gutglueck
Friday, January 6, 2012
Questions continue to dog the second highest ranking member of the county auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector’s office with regard to the role he and a political action committee he controlled played in illegally passing through and laundering money for those convicted of or charged with participation in a bribery and extortion conspiracy.
By Mark Gutgleuck
Friday, January 6, 2012
Originally Published: Friday, December 30, 2011
As of earlier this week, former state assemblyman Brett Granlund had actively avoided several attempts to serve him with a subpoena relating to the Colonies Settlement case.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 31 December 2011 05:39 PM
A panel of California appellate judges could soon be deciding how, and possibly if, the Colonies corruption case will proceed to trial.
The Fourth District Court of Appeal in Riverside is considering an appeal filed by the San Bernardino County district attorney and state attorney general offices seeking to restore charges that were dismissed in August against Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum, former Supervisor Paul Biane, former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin and Mark Kirk, former chief of staff for Supervisor Gary Ovitt.
The court completed briefings from prosecutors and defense attorneys on the appeal last month and also agreed to consider writs of mandate filed by the defense seeking to have more charges dismissed against the four. A decision is expected in the next few months.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 12/30/2011 11:37:49 AM PST
Investigations into corruption in San Bernardino County advanced in fits and starts over the past year.
Prosecutors gained ground when former Supvervisor-turned-Assessor Bill Postmus agreed in March to plead guilty to bribery, conflict of interest and misappropriation of public funds and to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Friday, December 9, 2011 – 04:30 p.m.
The California Court of Appeal has now entered the fray on the Colonies case.
Mike Cruz and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 12/09/2011 12:50:39 PM PST
Greg Eyler
SAN BERNARDINO – Gregory Eyler, a former taxpayer advocate for the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office, pleaded no contest Friday to an allegation that he drew pay from the county for work he never performed.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 29 November 2011 09:29 AM
A San Bernardino County judge on Tuesday ordered the grand jury testimony of a former county official unsealed as part of a government corruption case.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 11/29/2011 10:37:41 PM PST
A San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered that the Grand Jury testimony of a former county official be unsealed.
Judge Michael A. Smith ordered the release of transcripts of testimony given by Jim Lindley, the county’s former public health director and former director of purchasing, before the county’s civil Grand Jury on April 21.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 – 01:30 p.m.
The Sun / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspapers has convicted the four defendants in the case surrounding the $120 million Colonies settlement.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 29 November 2011 09:29 AM
A San Bernardino County judged ordered the grand jury testimony of a former county official unsealed as part of a corruption case.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 11/28/2011 06:36:01 PM PST
A new law meant to reduce California’s prison population raises questions as to whether four defendants in a sweeping San Bernardino County corruption case would serve time in prison if convicted.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/12/2011 06:12:51 AM PST
The ways money flowed to candidates and political action committees and alleged acts of blackmail are detailed in search warrants in San Bernardino County’s $102 million legal settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP in November 2006.
The warrants, released last week, also describe what led authorities to suspect a county supervisor’s former chief of staff of criminal activity before he became a witness for the prosecution.
Joe Nelson and Mike Cruz, Staff Writers
Created: 11/10/2011 04:48:37 PM PST
RIVERSIDE – A federal judge seemed poised to rule that federal agents did not violate the civil rights of Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum when they served search warrants at his home and office in September.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/09/2011 05:33:36 PM PST
An attorney for Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum said federal officials on Wednesday returned all materials seized from Burum’s home and office during an FBI raid on Sept. 15.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 08 November 2011 10:05 AM
Search warrants released as part of a San Bernardino County corruption case detail how the four-year investigation grew from reports of political gifts to allegations of a far-reaching conspiracy involving several top county officials and a prominent developer.
Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 11/07/2011 06:53:01 PM PST
The remaining search warrants served in a sweeping corruption probe involving a legal settlement between the county and a Rancho Cucamonga developer were released Monday.
BY IMRAN GHORI AND DUG BEGLEY
STAFF WRITERS
ighori@pe.com | dbegley@pe.com
Published: 04 November 2011 09:59 AM
Search warrants released Friday provide more details of former San Bernardino County assessor and Supervisor Bill Postmus’ struggles with hiding his homosexuality and drug addiction as he was under scrutiny by authorities who suspected him of abusing his public office.
Joe Nelson and Mike Cruz, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 11/04/2011 10:56:54 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Eleven search warrants served over a two-year period in a sweeping corruption probe tied to a legal settlement between the county and a Rancho Cucamonga developer were ordered released Friday by a Superior Court judge.
(Disclaimers: Document #1 contains explicit language; pages containing private information have been removed from Document #2)
Judge Michael A. Smith ordered the search warrants released Friday after defense attorneys did not appear in court to object to their release or request redactions be made to the documents.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Created: 11/01/2011 06:25:06 PM PDT
In a rare move, federal prosecutors have agreed to return materials to a Rancho Cucamonga developer that were seized in September as part of an investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the $102 million lawsuit settlement between Colonies Partners LP and San Bernardino County.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 01 November 2011 09:35 PM
The U.S. Attorney’s office will return materials seized in mid-September from Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum during an FBI search at his home and business, according to an order approved by a federal judge Monday.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/24/2011 06:24:03 PM PDT
Nearly a dozen search warrants and their affidavits served by investigators probing the Colonies Partners LP $102million settlement with San Bernardino County were ordered unsealed Monday for defense lawyers.
Mike Cruz and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 10/24/2011 02:55:29 PM PDT
A judge on Monday declined to bar more than 2,700 pages of Grand Jury transcripts in a criminal corruption probe from being used in a civil case involving San Bernardino County and three other public entities.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 24 October 2011 12:23 PM
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge ruled Monday that he will not prevent about 2,700 pages of grand jury testimony in a corruption case from being used in a related civil case.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 21 October 2011 07:10 PM
Prosecutors are arguing that a San Bernardino County Superior Court judge erred in tossing out some corruption charges against developer Jeff Burum and three former county officials, stating that they should be allowed to prove the allegations at trial.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/20/2011 03:12:49 PM PDT
The attorney representing Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum is asking a state appeals court to dismiss the remaining criminal charges against his client, who prosecutors charged in a sweeping county corruption probe.
Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 10/17/2011 02:10:43 PM PDT
Jim Erwin
The attorney defending former San Bernardino County Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin in a sweeping corruption probe is alleging that an FBI search of Erwin’s home was flawed and that Erwin’s civil rights were violated.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 10/08/2011 08:36:40 PM PDT
Grand Jury testimony given by Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum in 2009 could prove beneficial to his defense and should have been provided to a criminal grand jury in April, according to Burum’s attorney.
The Colonies figure says agents crippled his firms and took attorney documents. Feds say no privileged papers were
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 07 October 2011 10:19 PM
An attorney for Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum urged federal officials to return material seized during a raid last month and accused them of taking documents that are protected by attorney-client privilege.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/06/2011 07:11:55 PM PDT
Senior state Assistant Attorney General Gary Schons will retire at the end of the month and will begin a new job at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, officials from both offices said.
San Bernardino County Assistant District Attorney Jim Hackleman also is retiring. His last day is Friday.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 05 October 2011 10:00 PM
During a bitter four-year legal battle with San Bernardino County, Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum was frustrated that county supervisors weren’t getting the real truth as he saw it, so he had his friend Jim Erwin act as an unofficial liaison who could bypass attorneys and deliver messages directly to them, according to testimony Burum provided to a grand jury.
Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 10/04/2011 01:59:35 PM PDT
FBI agents violated Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum’s civil rights and lied when they said they did not search his attorney’s office, according to a motion filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Riverside.
Postmus
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/29/2011 09:38:47 PM PDT
The attorney for Bill Postmus is concerned that his client, who is cooperating with state and local prosecutors in their investigation of San Bernardino County’s $102 million legal settlement with a Rancho Cucamonga developer, could be in legal jeopardy from a federal investigation into the deal.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/27/2011 12:07:51 PM PDT
REPORTS FROM COURT: Get updates as they happen. Follow @SBcourts to keep up with the latest developments
Alleging a conflict of interest exists, the attorney for Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum wants the district attorney recused from prosecuting his client.
06:51 AM PDT on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Probe
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered prosecutors to turn over additional evidence to defendants in a corruption investigation, including information their attorneys claim will show that the district attorney has a conflict of interest.
Staff Reports
Posted: 09/27/2011 12:07:51 PM PDT
REPORTS FROM COURT:Get updates as they happen. Follow @SBcourtsto keep up with the latest developments
The attorney for Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum alleged in court today that San Bernardino County D.A. Michael A. Ramos has a conflict of interest in prosecuting him on alleged corruption charges.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/17/2011 08:45:23 PM PDT
Special Section: SB County Watch
FBI and IRS involvement in the biggest county corruption scandal in history is serious, far-reaching and unusual, say two legal experts and a former San Bernardino County District Attorney.
BY DUANE W. GANG and IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITERS
dgang@pe.com | ighori@pe.com
Federal agents descended upon Riverside and San Bernardino counties on Thursday, serving search warrants on nine locations with ties to the Colonies Partners corruption probe.
Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 09/15/2011 12:04:21 PM PDT
FBI and IRS agents served nine search warrants Thursday at the homes and offices of former state Senator Jim Brulte, a Riverside publicist and four defendants in a sweeping San Bernardino County corruption scandal.
Harris
Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 09/08/2011 07:05:22 PM PDT
California Attorney General Kamala Harris said Thursday that despite the challenges at her office due to limited resources, her office remains committed to assisting San Bernardino County prosecutors in a sweeping corruption probe.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/03/2011 09:44:40 PM PDT
Attorneys for defendants in a sweeping corruption probe tied to San Bernardino County’s $102 million settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP complain that prosecutors presented one-sided evidence to a criminal grand jury in April.
Among the evidence prosecutors didn’t present include the March 2009 Grand Jury testimony of Colonies co-managing partner Jeff Burum, who at the time was called as a witness during a scandal at the county Assessor’s Office.
CORRUPTION IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
By Joe Nelson and Mike Cruz, Staff Writers
Created: 08/31/2011 10:05:07 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO — A San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Wednesday lifted an electronic monitoring and travel restriction order for four defendants in a sweeping county corruption case, while prosecutors announced they are appealing the dismissal of some of the charges against the defendants.
10:31 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Corruption Probe
Defendants in a San Bernardino County corruption case left court Wednesday free of the electronic ankle bracelets they had been forced to wear for more than three months.
Mike Cruz and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Created: 08/31/2011 05:33:48 PM PDT
Attorneys for Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum will receive an unredacted copy of his March 2009 Grand Jury testimony, Presiding Judge Douglas Elwell ordered Wednesday.
Cassie MacDuff
10:27 AM PDT on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The corruption prosecution of the San Bernardino County Four suffered a big setback recently when a judge ruled that approving a $102 million settlement in exchange for political contributions isn’t against the law.
CORRUPTION IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
By Mike Cruz and Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writers
Created: 08/31/2011 10:05:07 AM PDT
Past coverage: Read previous stories on corruption in San Bernardino County in our special online section
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/29/2011 08:42:20 PM PDT
An attorney for a Rancho Cucamonga developer accused of conspiring with San Bernardino County officials to gain a $102 million settlement says prosecutors have failed to provide him with documents and other evidence that will exonerate his client.
10:48 PM PDT on Monday, August 29, 2011
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Corruption Probe
Defendants in a San Bernardino County corruption case are asking a judge to ease bail restrictions requiring them to wear electronic ankle bracelets monitoring their whereabouts.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/27/2011 09:47:32 PM PDT
The dismissal of five of seven criminal charges against Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum in a far-reaching county corruption scandal is the latest twist in a case that has seen sweeping changes in the past two years.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/26/2011 03:12:40 PM PDT
Attorneys for defendants in a wide-ranging San Bernardino County corruption case are requesting that an electronic monitoring order and court-imposed travel restrictions be lifted for their clients.
Mike Cruz and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 08/20/2011 06:00:25 PM PDT
A judge’s decision to dismiss most of the felony charges against Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum in a sweeping corruption case should not affect the legal standing of key witness Bill Postmus, attorneys say.
09:58 PM PDT on Friday, August 19, 2011
BY IMRAN GHORI and DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITERS
ighori@pe.com | dgang@pe.com
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge dismissed the majority of charges against Rancho Cucamonga businessman Jeff Burum on Friday, a decision that his attorneys described as a major blow to prosecutors in a wide-ranging corruption probe.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/19/2011 10:05:32 AM PDT
A San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Friday dismissed five of seven felony charges against Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum, whom prosecutors allege bribed county officials to settle a lawsuit with his company for $102 million.
Saturday, August 20, 2011 – 08:25 a.m.
To read the August 19, 2011 demurrer ruling in the Colonies matter click here: Colonies Demurrer Ruling
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 08/19/2011 05:32:24 PM PDT
A judge’s decision to dismiss several charges against a Rancho Cucamonga-based developer and three former San Bernardino County officials has not weakened the case against them, according to district attorney’s officials.
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/19/2011 06:11:13 PM PDT
Few former or current San Bernardino County officials were surprised Friday by a judge’s dismissal of most of the charges against a Rancho Cucamonga-based developer.
By PE News
August 19, 2011 11:25 AM
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge dismissed the majority of charges against Rancho Cucamonga businessman Jeff Burum this morning, handing a major blow to prosecutors in the Colonies bribery case.
10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, August 13, 2011
By IMRAN GHORI
Staff Writer ighori@pe.com
Attorneys for the four defendants in the Colonies bribery case are attempting to have many of the charges against their clients dismissed when they return to court Friday.
By Joe Nelson Staff Writer
Posted: 08/12/2011 08:23:55 PM PDT
San Bernardino County Chief Executive Officer Greg Devereaux disputed allegations that county attorneys are essentially assisting in the criminal defense of Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum by sharing information in a civil lawsuit with Burum’s lawyers.
Postmus
By Joe Nelson Staff Writer
Posted: 08/12/2011 09:33:57 PM PDT
San Bernardino County cannot just sue Colonies Partners LP to recoup a landmark $102 million settlement because of former Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus’s guilty plea to bribery, the county’s CEO said.
Thursday, August 11, 2011 – 10:30 a.m.
Why is the truth a secret?
Justice is supposed to be about seeking the truth.
But in the Colonies criminal case, it sure doesn’t seem that way.
Settlement talks heat up after trip
Created: 08/06/2011 09:42:20 PM PDT
In September 2005, then-San Bernardino County Supervisor Bill Postmus returned from a trip to China insistent the county settle a land-rights lawsuit with a Rancho Cucamonga developer that spanned more than three years.
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