Law enforcement officers executed a series of search warrants in Huntington Park, California, on Wednesday, raiding the homes of current and former city council members as well as the mayor’s home as part of a $14 million corruption probe.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his Office is heading an investigation, titled “Operation Dirty Pond,” over the potential misuse of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds pertaining to the construction of the city’s aquatic center.
The Huntington Park City Hall building was also raided, Fox News reported.
The matter pertains to the city’s Regional Aquatic Center, which was intended to be a two-story structure that would include an Olympic-sized pool, gym, football field, conference rooms, and other amenities.
However, the city’s vice mayor, Arturo Flores, has stated that there have been no results thus far, despite the fact that millions of dollars were taken from taxpayers to construct the facility.
Huntington Park Mayor Karina Macias, a Democrat, and Democrat city councilor Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez were among those who had their homes raided, per Fox 11 LA.
Former Huntington Park city council member Linda Caraballo filed a 282-page report with the LA DA’s Office in 2022 to alert them to the alleged corruption. Caraballo told the outlet: “Heads are going to roll and a lot of people are going to be really put into some serious problems. They all should find lawyers right away.”
Additionally, Vice Mayor Arturo Flores told the local network, “This is a project that has yielded nothing for the residents. It’s my understanding that there’s an estimated $14 million, give or take, that has been expended by the city, and that from those funds, the residents of the city have only received an empty lot with dead grass and nothing to show for those millions of dollars.”
According to the District Attorney’s Office, numerous items were confiscated during the searches, such as electronic devices, financial documents, and public records.
“My office is committed to ensuring that public officials uphold the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and transparency,” Hochman said. “When concerns arise about the use of public funds or the actions of those in office, it is our duty to investigate thoroughly and protect the public’s trust.”
He added, “I want to commend our dedicated prosecutors and investigators for their diligent work on this complex case. Their unwavering commitment to justice ensures that no one – regardless of their position or title – is above the law.”
