Of the seven former Beaumont city officials who were charged in the misappropriation of $43 million in public money over a two-decade period, only one remained in custody Saturday, May 21.
Former City Attorney Joseph Sandy Aklufi — charged with six counts of embezzlement — remained in custody at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, with bail set at $1 million.
Former Finance Director William Kevin Aylward and former City Manager Alan Charles Kapanicas were both released on $1 million bail each on Friday. They have each been charged with 24 counts of misappropriation of funds, six counts of embezzlement and two counts of conspiracy.
Former Beaumont Planning Director Ernest Alois Egger, the only person in the group not to be arrested on May 17, turned himself into authorities Wednesday and was released Thursday on $5 million bail. He is charged with six counts of embezzlement and one count of conflict of interest.
The rest of the group, including former Economic Development Director David William Dillon, retired Police Chief Francis Dennis Coe Jr. and former Public Works Director Deepak Moorjani were all arrested Tuesday. Dillon and Coe were released the same day, while Moorjani was released Thursday.
From the ’90s until 2015, the group of men is accused of such things as funneling work into their own businesses, misusing funds intended for regional transportation and doling out city money without the approval of the City Council.
Three of the defendants — Aklufi, Aylward and Kapanicas — could face arraignment when they are next in court May 26. The four others — Egger, Moorjani, Dillon and Coe — face arraignment in July.
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