The arraignments of four of the seven defendants in the Beaumont Corruption case were expected to be video-only, with the defendants appearing via camera on a small TV set in the Riverside courthouse, but now it appears some may be arraigned in person.
On Tuesday, May 17, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office charged seven former officials with the city of Beaumont with 94 felonies and misappropriation of $43 million in taxpayer funds.
Public records show how Beaumont city officials allegedly tapped into millions in bond money.
The more bond debt the city incurred, the more money the men made, according to public records.
Former City Manager Alan C. Kapanicas, who also served as executive director of the entity the city created to take bonds, repeatedly approved payments to his own company, General Government Management Services, city records show. (After he left Beaumont, ex-council members, and the indicted former police chief, aided his job search.)
Meanwhile, Ernest A. Egger; David W. Dillon and Deepak Moorjani served respectively as the city planning, economic development and public works directors as well as being the principals behind Urban Logic Consultants, the firm that was originally hired to help with financial and infrastructure planning. At least $43.2 million went to Urban Logic between 1994 and 2012, according to documents.
Court documents outline how investigators believe some of the seven defendants set up a system that kept their deals and millions of dollars in alleged illicit money diversions out of the public eye.
This story is developing. Check back later for updates.