Former Baldwin Park councilman Ricardo Pacheco has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a corruption scheme involving bribes for marijuana permits and a police union contract. He was also fined $10,000 and ordered to forfeit nearly $220,000.
Pacheco, 63, was sentenced after pleading guilty to corruption in June 2020. The case also involved former Compton councilman Jacob Galvan, 39, who received a similar 18-month sentence and was ordered to pay $323,557 in restitution. Galvan also admitted to failing to report over $500,000 in income to the IRS.
The Department of Justice stated that the pair engaged in corrupt acts while serving as elected officials, including the payment and acceptance of tens of thousands of dollars in bribes. These bribes were intended to secure a police union's support and obtain official city permits for marijuana cultivation.
Bribes and Investigations
The corruption began to take shape in 2017 when Baldwin Park began the process of approving marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution within its city limits. Prosecutors said Pacheco started soliciting bribes from businesses seeking marijuana development agreements and permits, while Galvan acted as a consultant, connecting marijuana operators with Pacheco.
Between January and October 2018, Pacheco accepted $37,900 in bribes from an undercover FBI officer posing as a Baldwin Park police officer. This officer was assisting the FBI in an ongoing corruption investigation after another officer approached the bureau. In exchange for these payments, Pacheco voted in favor of a police association contract in March 2018, which was valued at approximately $4.4 million over three years.
As part of his plea agreement, Pacheco resigned from the city council and forfeited $83,145 seized by the FBI. This sum included $62,900 found buried in two locations in his backyard.
Galvan admitted to paying Pacheco $70,000 in bribes to influence Pacheco's votes and secure his support for commercial marijuana permits. In exchange for the illicit payments, Pacheco agreed to use his position to help companies obtain marijuana permits, including voting in their favor.
Pacheco previously served on the Baldwin Park council from 1997 to 2020, holding the position of mayor pro tem in 2018. He later became a federal informant, assisting investigators in dismantling a network of individuals connected to the marijuana industry and local government, according to reports.
Pacheco's restitution hearing is scheduled for the coming weeks.