Huntington Park City Hall, Home of Mayor, Among 11 Locations Raided in Public Corruption Probe
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office executed search warrants on Wednesday at Huntington Park City Hall, the home of Mayor Karina Macias, and nine other locations as part of a public corruption probe involving a controversial $23 million aquatic center slated for the city’s Salt Lake Park.
Operation Dirty Pond
Dubbed "Operation Dirty Pond," the probe began in November 2022 and focuses on the potential misuse of millions of dollars in public funds allocated to build the indoor pool, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement. The proposal called for a 30,000-square-foot, two-story, state-of-the-art aquatic center with an Olympic-size pool.
Search Warrants Executed
The following locations were raided by the district attorney’s Bureau of Investigation:
- Huntington Park City Hall, 6550 Miles Ave.
- Huntington Park Public Works, 6900 Bissell St.
- Salt Lake Park, 3401 E. Florence Ave.
- Residence of Edvin Tsaturyan and Sona Vardikyan, owners of JT Construction Group in Glendale.
- Residence of Efren Martinez, a former Huntington Park city official who lives in Los Angeles.
- Business office of Unified Consulting Services, LLC in Huntington Park.
- Residence of Huntington Park City Manager Ricardo Reyes, who lives in Downey.
- Homes of former City Councilmembers Graciela Ortiz and Marilyn Sanabria.
- Home of Mayor Karina Macias.
- Residence of Councilmember Eddie Martinez.
Items Seized
Numerous items were seized from each location, including public records maintained by the city, financial paperwork, computers, tablets, cellphones, and various forms of electronic equipment, said Hochman, who did not provide specific details of corruption allegations.
Background on the Aquatic Center
The construction of an aquatic center was approved several years ago, but it has been tied up in legal issues ever since. Huntington Park Vice Mayor Arturo Flores told the Southern California News Group that the project has gone nowhere and is "dead in the water" and "never feasible." Satellite images of Salt Lake Park show an empty, fenced-off area covered in dead grass where the aquatic center was set to be built.
Investigation Timeline
The probe began in November 2022, and the search warrants were executed on Wednesday.
Reactions and Concerns
Huntington Park Vice Mayor Arturo Flores publicly called for an investigation into the aquatic center, contending millions of dollars connected to the project have been unaccounted for. Additionally, four former Huntington Park employees have sued the city alleging they faced discrimination and retaliation for raising concerns about financial impropriety in connection with the aquatic center.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that public officials uphold the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and transparency. The investigation into the misuse of public funds and potential corruption is ongoing, and the DA’s Office will continue to work to protect the public’s trust.
FAQs
- What is the purpose of the investigation?
The investigation is focused on the potential misuse of millions of dollars in public funds allocated to build the indoor pool. - Which locations were raided as part of the investigation?
Eleven locations, including Huntington Park City Hall, were raided as part of the investigation. - What is the status of the aquatic center project?
The project has been tied up in legal issues since its approval several years ago and is currently "dead in the water." - What is the total value of the project?
The project was initially valued at $23 million, but some estimates have put the total cost at $40 million.
