Ex-Water Official Admits Crime
A former Mojave Water Agency official pleaded guilty Monday to federal corruption charges for awarding contracts to companies that then paid him more than $1 million as a subcontractor over five years, officials said.
Russell John Mullins, 64, of Rancho Mirage was the director of engineering, operations and maintenance for the agency from 1993 to 1998.
Mullins awarded contracts to companies run by James Dale Cole Jr. of Yucaipa and Pasquale Benenati Jr. of Riverside. Both have pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting theft from a program that receives federal funds.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
