Former Democrat San Francisco Public Works Directo
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Posted On: 01/20/2022 12:50:10 PM
Former Democrat San Francisco Public Works Director pleads guilty in corruption probe
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Mohammed Nuru, the former Public Works head at the center of San Francisco’s City Hall corruption scandal, formally entered a guilty plea to federal fraud charges on Thursday, which could lead to years in prison.
Nuru, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud during a virtual hearing before U.S. District Judge William Orrick.
The former Public Works Director has been at the center of a federal investigation into public corruption at City Hall since he was arrested back in January 2020.
Prosecutors said he admitted to a “staggering amount of corruption” that included getting thousands in cash, travel and other perks, all in exchange for providing insider information on contracts and bidding.
In a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office last month, Nuru admitted to taking bribes and kickbacks from city contractors in exchange for access to his influence with City Hall.
Federal agents initially arrested Nuru along with Lefty O’Doul’s restaurant owner Nick Bovis in an alleged attempt to bribe a San Francisco International Airport commissioner for help to obtain a restaurant concession.
The U.S. Attorney said in a statement:
“The complaint describes a web of corruption involving bribery, kickbacks, and side deals by one of San Francisco’s highest-ranking city employees. The public is entitled to honest work from public officials, free from manipulation for the official’s own personal benefit and profit.
“(Nuru used) his official position to benefit a billionaire in China who was developing a large multimillion-dollar mixed-use project in San Francisco, in exchange for travel and lodging, high-end liquor, and other gifts and benefits.”
Since Nuru’s arrest, a dozen defendants linked to the corruption investigation have been charged in federal court, along with three corporate entities.
Among those charged include former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission general manager Harlan Kelly and former Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services director Sandra Zuniga.
Nuru was accused of giving trash hauling giant Recology favorable treatment in exchange for various payments, including $750,000 in donations the firm made to a nonprofit account that Nuru used to pay for staff merchandise and events.
In his role as Public Works Director, Nuru was involved in approving requests for rate increases in garbage collection rates in San Francisco, including those charged by Recology.
Recology also hired his son and contributed $60,000 to a baseball charity for children that used the money to fund Public Works holiday parties for Nuru, according to prosecutors.
He also admitted to giving prominent permit expediter Walter Wong city information to win government contracts in exchange for several international trips and $260.000 toward work on two of his personal residences.
The corruption probe also connected Nuru to city contractor Florence Kong, who prosecutors said bribed Nuru with a $36,550 Rolex watch in exchange for city business.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed not to seek more than nine years in prison for Nuru. The U.S. Attorney’s Office agreed to dismiss other charges, which could have landed him behind bars for up to 20 years.
Nuru is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on May 26 by Judge Orrick. He remains out of custody on bond.
In June, Nuru was arrested in a bizarre incident where he attempted to steal a bag of potato chips from a local food bank while pulling knife.
District attorney Chesa Boudin declined to press charges, but a judge ordered Nuru to undergo a mental evaluation as part of the corruption trial.
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/former-sa...ion-probe/
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Mohammed Nuru, the former Public Works head at the center of San Francisco’s City Hall corruption scandal, formally entered a guilty plea to federal fraud charges on Thursday, which could lead to years in prison.
Nuru, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud during a virtual hearing before U.S. District Judge William Orrick.
The former Public Works Director has been at the center of a federal investigation into public corruption at City Hall since he was arrested back in January 2020.
Prosecutors said he admitted to a “staggering amount of corruption” that included getting thousands in cash, travel and other perks, all in exchange for providing insider information on contracts and bidding.
In a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office last month, Nuru admitted to taking bribes and kickbacks from city contractors in exchange for access to his influence with City Hall.
Federal agents initially arrested Nuru along with Lefty O’Doul’s restaurant owner Nick Bovis in an alleged attempt to bribe a San Francisco International Airport commissioner for help to obtain a restaurant concession.
The U.S. Attorney said in a statement:
“The complaint describes a web of corruption involving bribery, kickbacks, and side deals by one of San Francisco’s highest-ranking city employees. The public is entitled to honest work from public officials, free from manipulation for the official’s own personal benefit and profit.
“(Nuru used) his official position to benefit a billionaire in China who was developing a large multimillion-dollar mixed-use project in San Francisco, in exchange for travel and lodging, high-end liquor, and other gifts and benefits.”
Since Nuru’s arrest, a dozen defendants linked to the corruption investigation have been charged in federal court, along with three corporate entities.
Among those charged include former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission general manager Harlan Kelly and former Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services director Sandra Zuniga.
Nuru was accused of giving trash hauling giant Recology favorable treatment in exchange for various payments, including $750,000 in donations the firm made to a nonprofit account that Nuru used to pay for staff merchandise and events.
In his role as Public Works Director, Nuru was involved in approving requests for rate increases in garbage collection rates in San Francisco, including those charged by Recology.
Recology also hired his son and contributed $60,000 to a baseball charity for children that used the money to fund Public Works holiday parties for Nuru, according to prosecutors.
He also admitted to giving prominent permit expediter Walter Wong city information to win government contracts in exchange for several international trips and $260.000 toward work on two of his personal residences.
The corruption probe also connected Nuru to city contractor Florence Kong, who prosecutors said bribed Nuru with a $36,550 Rolex watch in exchange for city business.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed not to seek more than nine years in prison for Nuru. The U.S. Attorney’s Office agreed to dismiss other charges, which could have landed him behind bars for up to 20 years.
Nuru is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on May 26 by Judge Orrick. He remains out of custody on bond.
In June, Nuru was arrested in a bizarre incident where he attempted to steal a bag of potato chips from a local food bank while pulling knife.
District attorney Chesa Boudin declined to press charges, but a judge ordered Nuru to undergo a mental evaluation as part of the corruption trial.
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/former-sa...ion-probe/
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