Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/rupen-james-akoubian/)
While the DA’s office has officially cleared Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido of criminal conflict of interest relating to his property swap with a city contractor, prosecutors have asked state officials to investigate whether he committed tax fraud.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office late Friday afternoon cleared Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido of crimes committed in his property swap with a city contractor, saying that the $13,000 in fines issued by the state’s political watchdog is the appropriate penalty.
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has once again been compelled to amended campaign finance disclosure forms, this time for thousands of dollars in debt that disappeared from his previous disclosures.
District Attorney Tony Rackauckas didn’t announce a possible misdemeanor charge stemming from Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s property swap with a city contractor by the statute of limitations deadline.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office has been investigating crimes allegedly committed by Mayor Miguel Pulido in his property swap with a city contractor. The statute of limitations on one of those crimes runs out Jan. 4.
Sources say Orange County District Attorney’s Office has yet to interview key witnesses in the property swap investigation, which both a city investigative report and former FBI agent say is crucial.
An investigative report, obtained by Voice of OC, found Mayor Miguel Pulido apparently structured a cover-up of his financial windfall from a real estate deal with a city contractor.
As District Attorney Tony Rackauckas’ office investigates Miguel Pulido, the DA has taken contributions from Pulido’s campaign consultant as well as other allies of the mayor.
In closed session Tuesday, the city council will discuss possible legal action regarding Mayor Miguel Pulido’s property swap with a city contractor, including “civil/criminal” cases, according to meeting agenda.
The attempted eminent domain of Ace Muffler in the 1980s gave Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido a cause célèbre and launched his political career. Now, the government is again threatening to seize the business.