FBI Raids PR Firm in Probe of Robbins

As part of its expanding investigation of Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana), the FBI has raided the offices of a Santa Monica public relations firm run by one of the lawmaker’s former staff members, it was learned Tuesday.

Sources said investigators armed with a warrant searched the Goddard Co. last Thursday night, looking for evidence that the firm might have served as a conduit for money paid by a San Diego businessman who allegedly was pressured into making payoffs to Robbins.

Sources familiar with the probe said the FBI is investigating allegations that San Diego developer Jack Naiman, at Robbins’ direction, sent a check of more than $10,000 to the company. The money ostensibly was for a public relations campaign that Naiman did not want and was never put into effect, according to the allegations.

The business’s owner, Jennifer Goddard, is a former employee in Robbins’ Sacramento office. She was not present during the raid.

When contacted by a reporter, Goddard referred questions to her attorney, Gordon Greenberg, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. Greenberg confirmed the search of Goddard’s office, but said, “It doesn’t mean that she is involved in a crime.”

One source close to Goddard said that the former Robbins aide acknowledged that the senator referred Naiman to her company. The source said Goddard contends that the payment was for a legitimate public relations effort and that there was no benefit to Robbins.

Naiman has told federal authorities that Robbins and Coastal Commissioner Mark L. Nathanson were part of an elaborate scheme to extort $250,000 from him, beginning in 1987. Naiman was developing property in La Jolla that included a Hyatt Hotel and was trying to defeat a competing project that required Coastal Commission approval.

Attorneys for both men have denied the allegations.

The raid at the Goddard offices was one of at least three conducted by the FBI last week as part of its investigation of Robbins, a 17-year veteran of the Legislature. On Friday, following the Goddard search, FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents conducted simultaneous raids of the residences of Robbins and Nathanson.

The search of the Goddard Co. offices was also an attempt to gather records that might show the movement of cash and checks between Naiman and Robbins, sources said.

According to sources, Goddard met briefly with Naiman in his office in La Jolla two or more years ago. Goddard contends that the meeting was held to discuss a public relations campaign in connection with a Los Angeles hotel development, sources said.