Joel Jacinto, Council member Jose Huizar and City Hall (Credit: Wikimedia)
A high-ranking city official has resigned from his post, after his name appeared in an FBI search warrant related to a probe of City Hall and real estate developers.
Joel Jacinto, was one of five commissioners on the L.A. Board of Public Works. He stepped down on Friday without stating a reason for his resignation, according to the Los Feliz Ledger.
Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed Jacinto to the post in 2015. He was officially commissioner for the board’s Bureau of Engineering.
Both Jacinto and his wife, Ave Jacinto, appeared in an FBI search warrant that was made public about 10 days ago. The warrant, executed in late November, sought records from a Google account of Raymond Chan, a former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, in relation to several possible crimes, including bribery, extortion, money laundering, and conspiracy.
The search warrant appears to be connected to warrants executed by the FBI of Council member Jose Huizar’s home and office, although the FBI will not confirm or deny what that raid was related to. The investigation appears to center on City Hall decisions related to real estate development.
Other names that appeared in the search warrant include Huizar, Councilmember Curren Price, and aides to both Huizar and Council President Herb Wesson.
A number of executives with China-based developers also appear in the document, including Shenzhen New World Group president Wei Huang and Shenzhen Hazens founder Fuer Yuan. Both firms have major projects in the works in Downtown L.A., which is part of Huizar’s district.
Jacinto has been active in the Filipino community for decades and is executive director for the Search To Involve Pilipino Americans, a community organization that provides social services. He was involved in the designation of Historic Filipinotown. [Los Feliz Ledger] — Dennis Lynch
Jacinto could not immediately be reached for comment.
Source: The Real Deal Los Angeles