California ex-councilman jailed for taking bribes, hiding $63K in backyard
Ricardo Pacheco, a former Baldwin Park city councilman, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for accepting bribes tied to a police union contract and marijuana permits. He admitted to burying nearly $63,000 in cash in his backyard as part of the scheme. Pacheco was also fined $10,000 and ordered to forfeit over $219,000.
Pacheco, 63, served on the Baldwin Park council for more than two decades before resigning in 2020 under his plea agreement. The FBI's investigation began when two police officers approached the bureau, with one officer later delivering a $20,000 cash bribe in an envelope at a coffee shop while wearing recording equipment. Pacheco also directed $17,900 in checks to his church and political action committees he secretly controlled.
After being caught on video, Pacheco became an FBI informant wearing a wire, helping investigators build cases that produced six indictments involving more than 20 people across local government and the marijuana industry. The broader probe also implicated Galvan, a former Baldwin Park city attorney, a Commerce city manager, and a San Bernardino County planning commissioner. A restitution hearing for Pacheco remains pending.
This case could reinforce public skepticism about local government integrity, particularly in smaller cities where council members wield significant influence over contracts and permits. Residents may question whether similar arrangements exist elsewhere, potentially eroding trust in municipal decision-making. The involvement of a church and political committees as conduits could also raise concerns about how campaign and charitable funds are monitored. However, the FBI's successful sting operation demonstrates that such corruption can be detected and punished, which may serve as a deterrent to other officials considering similar schemes.