Rules of Robles ‘Kingdom’ Described

Former South Gate Treasurer Albert Robles was generous with his friends and relatives to a fault, federal prosecutors say.

Most of the $1.8 million in bribe payments they claim he exacted from city contractors wound up in the hands of those nearest and dearest to him.

An alleged bagman testified at Robles’ trial in Los Angeles federal court that he funneled $165,000 in kickbacks to buy a beachside condo in Baja California for Robles’ mother.

The mother of Robles’ onetime girlfriend received $80,000, according to the witness. Also, $300,000 allegedly went to a nonprofit organization run by a brother of Robles.

Another brother got $100,000, prosecutors charge, and a sister-in-law allegedly was awarded a share of a senior housing development.

As for Robles himself, the prosecution contends that $65,000 went to pay for his “platinum” membership in an exclusive organization run by self-help guru Tony Robbins. The membership entitled the 39-year-old Robles to attend motivational seminars in the South Pacific and Mexico.

Defense lawyer Ellen Barry countered that the prosecution had failed to prove any of the bribery, fraud or money-laundering charges.

“Albert Robles didn’t get cash, didn’t get property; he didn’t get any benefits,” she said. “All he got was a lot of grief.”

Robles served as an elected South Gate official for 11 years until he was ousted in a tumultuous recall election two years ago. He subsequently was indicted on 31 counts of fraud, bribery and money-laundering.

Assistant U.S. Atty. David Vaughn traced Robles’ career in the rough-and-tumble world of South Gate politics as both sides delivered closing arguments Tuesday in the two-week public corruption trial.

Robles often boasted that South Gate was his “personal kingdom” and that “I can do whatever I want,” the prosecutor said.

Vaughn said Robles began his takeover in 2000 when three of his political cronies won control of the five-member City Council. That done, he said, Robles seized control of the city government bureaucracy, firing administrators who refused to do his bidding and replacing them with those who would -- even though his job title granted him no such authority.

It was against this background that Robles allegedly wrangled huge bribes from a waste hauling company, a sewer repair contractor and a senior citizen housing developer that were funneled through middlemen to himself, his campaign, his friends and his relatives.

Robles did not take the witness stand during the trial.

Barry, the defense lawyer, said that under regulations adopted by California’s Fair Political Practices Commission, Robles was required to disclose only payments made to him, his spouse or his children. Robles, she added, is not married and has no children.

She noted that most of the payments to Robles’ family and friends were made by Edward Espinoza, a New Jersey businessman who was hired as a consultant by some of the South Gate contractors involved in the case.

Espinoza pleaded guilty earlier this year and testified for the prosecution, hoping for a reduced sentence. On the witness stand, he said Robles directed him to dispense portions of his consulting fees to Robles’ relatives and friends. Barry insisted that Espinoza acted on his own.

The defense attorney also disputed the prosecution’s portrayal of Robles as a virtual dictator. She denied that the City Council majority took its orders from him, though she acknowledged he often was “obnoxious, rude and condescending” in dealing with city staffers.

As for Robles’ alleged claim that South Gate was his “kingdom,” Barry said, “Albert had a need to brag about himself, but bragging is not a crime.”

Robles is being tried with a longtime friend, George Garrido, 53, who operated a wholesale nursery and recycling facility on city-leased land. The government contends that Robles ordered Klistoff & Sons, a small trash hauling company, to hire Garrido as a $350,000-a-year consultant in exchange for a $48-million, 10-year garbage and recycling contract.

Garrido, who received $437,500 from Klistoff, testified in his own defense during the trial, insisting that the payments were proper.

Klistoff was awarded the 10-year contract in a rigged selection process, according to prosecutors, in which company Vice President Michael Klistoff was prepped in advance on questions that a selection committee planned to ask prospective bidders. Klistoff also has pleaded guilty in the case.

Jury deliberations are scheduled to begin today.