Congressman Joe Baca left. County Supervisor Josie Gonzales right.

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 04 May 2012 06:48 PM

Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, is backing San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales’ opponent in the June 5 election in a sign of increased tensions between the one-time allies.

In a campaign news release Friday, May 4, Baca took aim at Gonzales, accusing her of failing to “live up to Democratic principles by supporting candidates that were part of the county corruption scandal.” He also described her as having “lost touch with the everyday needs of families.”

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/04/2012 05:20:47 PM PDT

A San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Friday rejected a motion to dismiss a case against a High Desert developer accused of lying to the Grand Jury about his role in a political action committee.

Judge J. David Mazurek denied the motion filed on behalf of John Dino DeFazio, 52, of Apple Valley, who stands charged with six felony counts of perjury. A pretrial hearing is now scheduled for June 22.

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Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/02/2012 11:26:32 AM PDT

Document: Read the amended complaint (.pdf file)

An attorney who 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 developer Colonies Partners LP has made slight amendments to his complaint.

Cory Briggs said he added some language to the complaint, which he filed in February in San Bernardino County Court, in order to fill in information that attorneys for the Colonies said was needed.

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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.

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The lawyer for Apple Valley businessman John Dino DeFazio, a figure in a county corruption case, is seeking dismissal of the case, alleging lack of evidence. (Joe Nelson/Staff)

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/06/2012 01:20:31 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – The attorney for an Apple Valley businessman linked to a sweeping San Bernardino County corruption case filed a motion Friday in Superior Court seeking dismissal of the case.

John Dino DeFazio, 52, is charged with six felony counts of perjury for allegedly lying to the county’s civil Grand Jury in 2009 about his involvement with a political action committee prosecutors allege was used to conceal a $100,000 bribe to former county Assessor Bill Postmus.

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Sentencing was delayed today for former San Bernardino County assessor Bill Postmus./FILE PHOTO

IMRAN GHORI
ighori@pe.com
Published: 29 March 2012 10:36 AM

A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge Thursday delayed sentencing for former Assessor Bill Postmus on corruption charges until July 19.

Postmus pleaded guilty last year to taking part in a conspiracy involving bribery and extortion in exchange for his vote for the county’s controversial $102 million legal settlement with developer Colonies Partners.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Postmus

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.

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Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus

Published: 14 February 2012 06:04 PM

A look at crime in the Inland region, from a Rialto shooting to a cockfighting raid to the theft of the Storm mascot’s quad.

To view video, click here.

February 14, 2012 11:31 AM
ShareThis| Print Story | E-Mail Story
Natasha Lindstrom

SAN BERNARDINO • A judge ruled Tuesday that Apple Valley developer John Dino DeFazio will stand trial for allegedly lying to the grand jury, marking the latest legal development in the far-reaching Colonies corruption investigation.

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Bill Postmus

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Prosecutors say A.V. developer lied about PAC; defense rejects charge
February 10, 2012 8:36 AM
ShareThis| Print Story | E-Mail Story
Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO • Prosecutors attempted to show Thursday that Apple Valley developer John Dino DeFazio lied about a political action committee that former county Assessor Bill Postmus secretly used to funnel bribes.

At the preliminary hearing in San Bernardino court, DeFazio’s defense worked to demonstrate DeFazio — not Postmus — controlled the PAC in question, and attacked the credibility of the district attorney’s key witnesses.

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Postmus

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.

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Accused of lying about ties to ex-assessor Bill Postmus, John DeFazio says no to a plea and may now face trial

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 07 February 2012 08:15 PM

An Apple Valley businessman accused of lying about his ties to former San Bernardino County assessor Bill Postmus turned down a plea deal Tuesday that would have spared him prison time.

As a result, John Dino DeFazio, 52, will return to court Thursday for a preliminary hearing to determine whether he will face trial on six felony charges of perjury.

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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.

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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.

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From left to right: Colonies scandal defendants Jeff Burum, Mark Kirk, Jim Erwin, and Paul Biane stand during a motion to delay their arraignment hearing in a San Bernardino Superior Courtroom

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.

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Former Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez, at left, received a 2 year, 8 month prison sentence, while Former Assessor taxpayer Advocate Greg Advocate, on the right, received 4 months of home detention. Both men were accused of virtually the same offenses.

Saturday, December 10, 2011 – 09:00 a.m.

Speaking of no  justice.

Friday’s plea deal between the  San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office and defendant Gregory Eyler depicts a stark reality when prosecutions turn political in nature.

The move avoids a jury trial originally set for January 30, 2012.

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Eyler

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.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 12/08/2011 08:04:06 PM PST

San Bernardino County prosecutors have filed four additional perjury charges against an Apple Valley businessman accused of lying to the Grand Jury in a sweeping county corruption probe.

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“There really is no such thing as insider trading for real estate,” said Milsap. “It goes on in real estate all the time. That’s the benefit of local knowledge.”

Ryan Milsap, Adjunct Professor at USC School of Real Estate and Broker

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/14/2011 08:19:46 PM PST

Authorities looked hard at several land deals involving former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus during their investigation of the county’s $102 million legal settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP, according to recently released search warrants.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Bill Postmus and Jim Erwin

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.

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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.

Read the documents: 1 | 2

(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.

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Friday, October 21, 2011

The California Attorney General’s Office’s filing of charges against Third District San Bernardino County supervisor Neil Derry six months ago has opened up a can of legal and political worms that is likely to complicate the future political landscape for not only Attorney General Kamala Harris, but San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos and at least two of Derry’s colleagues on the board of supervisors.

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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.

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The Riverside City Council is discussing whether to name City Hall after Mayor Ron Loveridge.

FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published: 16 October 2011 05:58 PM

A campaign alliance between San Bernardino City Attorney Jim Penman and city clerk candidate Amelia Sanchez Lopez is raising eyebrows among longtime election watchers and concern among those who would like to see the pair defeated.

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Former San Bernardino County supervisor and assessor Bill Postmus.

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 14 October 2011 09:49 PM

An attorney for a former San Bernardino County assessor’s employee requested Friday that prosecutors compel Bill Postmus to submit to an interview with a defense team investigator.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Cook

Thursday, September 29, 2011 – 10:30 a.m.

State Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) has thrown his hat into the ring for San Bernardino County Supervisor.

Cook joins incumbent supervisor Neil Derry and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman James Ramos to make a current field of three.

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San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos announces the indictment of Paul Biane, former of the Board of supervisors, Mark Kirk, former Chief of Staff for Board member Gary Ovitt, James Erwin, former Chief of Staff for Board member Neil Derry and Jeffrey Burum, General Partner of Colonies Partners, L.P., by the criminal Grand Jury during a press conference at the District Attorneys office on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. Al Cuizon/Staff Photographer (Sun file photo)

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.

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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.

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Uffer

10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, September 22, 2011

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge is allowing former county administrator Mark Uffer to go forward with his wrongful termination lawsuit, finding that he has enough cause to argue that he was dismissed for cooperating with law enforcement.

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By Mike Cruz Staff Writer
Posted: 09/21/2011 12:38:23 PM PDT

Former taxpayer advocate Gregory Eyler, one of several people suspected of political malfeasance and fraud in the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office, has been scheduled for a jury trial in January.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

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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.

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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.

Read the rest of this entry »

From left, Paul Biane, Jim Erwin and Jeff Burum have their GPS ankle braclets removed Wednesday morning in the hallway of the San Bernardino Superior Court. A judge ordered the Colonies defendants’ electronic monitoring and travel restriction order be lifted. (Courtesy photos)

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

From left, Mark Kirk, Paul Biane, Jeff Burum and Jim Erwin stand before Judge Brian McCarville. All heard the judge dismiss at least one count against them in the San Bernardino County corruption probe. Each pleaded not guilty later in the day to the remaining charges.(Kurt Miller/Staff Photographer)

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Mike Cruz
Posted: 08/19/2011 01:01:02 PM PDT

The prosecution could be ready to try Gregory Eyler, one of several defendants charged in the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office scandal, after the defense reviews Grand Jury transcripts in the Colonies Partners LP settlement investigation.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wagner

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/03/2011 06:45:50 PM PDT

Retired San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Christopher Warner is demanding from former interim County Counsel Dennis Wagner a copy of a complaint Wagner filed against him and another judge in 2006 alleging judicial misconduct.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bill Postmus

Supervisor focused on support for settlement
Mike Cruz and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 08/03/2011 09:17:44 PM PDT

A move to expedite a settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP in 2006 backfired on Bill Postmus, the chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors at the time.

Read the rest of this entry »

08:12 AM PDT on Thursday, August 4, 2011

By DUG BEGLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Probe

The civil trial between San Bernardino County and San Bernardino Associated Governments tied to the political corruption scandal roiling county politics has been pushed to April 2012 by a San Diego County judge.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, July 31, 2011

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A 2006 measure to limit San Bernardino County supervisors’ terms in office was devised to sneak a huge pay increase past voters, according to some witnesses who testified before a criminal grand jury.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, July 30, 2011
By IMRAN GHORI and DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

Over the course of San Bernardino County’s four-year legal battle with Colonies Partners, county officials say the company’s settlement demands escalated from an initial $25 million to a combination of cash and land that included a parcel potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Read the rest of this entry »

Witness blasts Colonies settlement
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 07/30/2011 10:12:55 PM PDT

San Bernardino County doled out $102 million to a Rancho Cucamonga developer to settle a land-rights lawsuit based on inflated damage estimates by the developer with no documentation to justify the figures, according to Grand Jury witness testimony.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:19 PM PDT on Friday, July 29, 2011

By DUG BEGLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Probe

SAN DIEGO – A public corruption case in San Bernardino County is becoming increasingly intertwined with a related lawsuit, and some lawyers in the civil case accused the county counsel’s office of cooperating with one of the felony defendants.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Sandra Emerson Staff Writer
Posted: 07/29/2011 04:37:30 PM PDT

A judge will continue to review a request to delay the San Bernardino County Flood Control District’s lawsuit against three public agencies seeking to recoup part of a $102 million settlement at the center of bribery allegations.

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10:46 PM PDT on Thursday, July 28, 2011

By DUG BEGLEY
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County should be able to proceed with its attempt to share the burden of a $102 million legal settlement without waiting for a related criminal case to be resolved, a judge said Thursday.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:46 PM PDT on Thursday, July 28, 2011

By DAVID DANELSKI
The Press-Enterprise

Jim Erwin, the one-time sheriff’s deputy who rose in the tumultuous world of San Bernardino County politics to be a union boss, developer’s consultant, political operative and supervisor’s chief of staff, saw himself as “a consummate insider,” former Supervisor Bill Postmus testified to a grand jury this spring.

Read the rest of this entry »

Staff Report
Created: 07/28/2011 09:45:21 PM PDT

A judge is expected to make a final ruling today on whether to delay San Bernardino County Flood Control District’s effort to recoup $102 million connected to a legal settlement tainted by bribery allegations.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson and Sandra Emerson, Staff Writers
Posted: 07/27/2011 08:31:48 PM PDT

Allegations of judicial misconduct against two San Bernardino Superior Court judges contributed to county attorneys’ refusal to settle a land- rights lawsuit with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP for $102 million, according to Grand Jury testimony.

Read the rest of this entry »

Supervisor Gary Ovitt

Supervisor says Kirk didn’t control his office
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 07/26/2011 05:28:51 PM PDT

Grand Jury testimony released Friday does not accurately portray who was in charge in the county’s 4th District, according to Supervisor Gary Ovitt.

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10:00 PM PDT on Monday, July 25, 2011

By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

When Colonies Partners first sued San Bernardino County in 2002 over flood-control improvements on its Upland development, they faced a Board of Supervisors unwilling to settle the dispute, recently released grand jury transcripts show.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Monday, July 25, 2011

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

In fall 2005, then-San Bernardino County Supervisor Bill Postmus returned from a trip to China a changed man.

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Grand Jury papers reveal tensions
Mike Cruz and Sandra Emerson, Staff Writers
Created: 07/25/2011 08:23:19 PM PDT

In San Bernardino County’s 4th District, the chief of staff ran the show, according to Grand Jury testimony released last week.

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