UPDATED: Santa Fe Springs Councilman Serrano Charged In Federal Bribery Case For Taking Thousands Of Dollars From Marijuana Store Operator

By Brian Hews

SEE UPDATES TO ORIGINAL POST AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST!

The plea agreement can be found at the end of this article.

Veteran Santa Fe Springs City Councilman Joseph Serrano has agreed to plead guilty in connection to a major federal bribery case that involves the accepting thousands of dollars in cash bribes from the operator of a marijuana dispensary doing business in the tiny industrial community.
Serrano was named Thursday in a federal bribery case that alleges he took thousands of dollars in cash bribes from the operator of a marijuana store who wanted to influence the city to allow his store to stay open.

Serrano, 62, who from the end of 2010 through October 2011 served as the mayor of Santa Fe Springs, has agreed to plead guilty to a felony bribery count in a plea agreement that was also filed this morning in United States District Court.
“A public official is entrusted with the well-being of the community he or she serves, no matter how large or small,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. “Here, Mr. Serrano chose to use his public office to shamelessly line his own pockets rather than use his elected position for the public good. The Department of Justice will continue to act as a watchdog for the public to protect them from self-serving officials like Mr. Serrano.”
SFS OFFICIALS REACT
Santa Fe Springs City Manager Thaddeus McCormack told Los Cerritos Community Newspaper in an interview that the “city is just starting to deal with the situation.”
“We have no comment on the matter until we get more information and details from Councilman Serrano and the US Attorney’s Office,” Mc Cormack said.
Mc Cormack said that the city officials will be releasing an official comment later in the day.

DETAILS OUTLINED BY US ATTORNEY
In the statement from the US Attorney’s Office, the facts in the plea agreement, Serrano admits that he asked the operator of the marijuana store to pay money in exchange for “information about the
City’s plans to regulate marijuana dispensaries and Serrano promised that he “would do what he could with regard to the City Council’s consideration of the marijuana dispensary issue to help the dispensary operator’s dispensary stay in business. On several occasions, defendant [Serrano] did in fact provide the dispensary operator with inside information regarding the City’s regulation of marijuana dispensaries.”
Soon after he became mayor, Serrano had a meeting with the marijuana store operator, told him that he controlled one other member of the City Council, and asked for $1,500, ostensibly to pay medical expenses for a sick relative. The marijuana store operator subsequently gave Serrano a $1,500 check and prepared paperwork to make it appear the money was a loan.

After this first payment, the marijuana store operator became an FBI informant and began recording a number of conversations with Serrano. During a meeting in late 2010, the informant gave Serrano $1,500 in cash and Serrano told the marijuana store operator: “I think you’re gonna be fine. I think you’re gonna hang in there” and that Serrano and another City Council member were “behind your cause” and “have your back” with regard to the City’s regulation of dispensaries, according to the plea agreement. Serrano also told the informant: “And I have to say, I can’t say to you directly. . . . Because if I say it directly then that’s you, know, . . . that’s bribe
money, . . . . Um, we, you have, we have your back.”

During subsequent meetings in 2011, the informant made several payments to Serrano of between $1,700 and $3,000, according to the statement of facts. During a March 2011 meeting, Serrano asked the informant if he could receive monthly cash payments of at least $1,600, which Serrano stated was the amount of his mortgage payment. “I don’t want to say being put on the payroll, but on a monthly basis getting something from you,” Serrano allegedly asked.

Serrano admits in the plea agreement that he took $10,000 in cash that had been provided by the FBI to the informant, and that the total amount of bribes was $11,500.

The FBI’s Acting Assistant Director In Charge in Los Angeles, Timothy Delaney, said, “Mr. Serrano was hired to be accountable and to set a good example in Santa Fe Springs, but instead he is charged with flouting the democratic process by allowing cash to influence his decisions, instead of the best interest of city residents.”

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.

The charge of bribery carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The plea agreement contemplates a sentence of approximately three years in federal prison. The actual sentence to be imposed in this case will be determined by a United States District Judge.

Serrano has agreed to appear for an arraignment in United States District Court on July 12. The case against Serrano was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

UPDATE: 4:02 p.m. Attorney Dominic Cantalupo who represents Serrano told Los Cerritos Community Newspaper in an interview that he nor Serrano will be making a public statement. “We have no comment at this moment,” Cantalupo said. The plea agreement between Serrano and the US Attorney’s Office took place on Wendnesday.

Serrano could be facing a maximum of 10 years in Federal prison, as well as three years of supervised formal probation, and a fine up to $250,000.00, LCCN has learned.

Serrano_plea_agreement[1]

Silonn Ice Maker Countertop, Portable Ice Machine with Carry Handle, Self-Cleaning Ice Makers with Basket and…

(4340)

$69.98 (as of April 25, 2025 01:17 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Rain-X 810165 Latitude 2-In-1 Water Repellent Wiper Blades, 22 Inch Windshield Wipers (Pack Of 2), Automotive…

(112634)

$34.99 (as of April 25, 2025 01:17 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Binoculars 12x25 for Adults and Kids Night Vision Binoculars Compact Binocular Large Eyepiece Waterproof…

(86)

$40.99 (as of April 25, 2025 01:17 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

WEESO Womens Tops Summer Short Sleeve V Neck Blouses Business Casual Loose Fit Tshirts Trendy Fashion Outfits

(268)

$9.99 (as of April 25, 2025 17:22 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler with Handle and Straw 30 oz | Flowstate 3-Position Lid | Cup Holder Compatible for Travel |…

(55035)

$35.00 (as of April 25, 2025 01:17 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

SMUG Countertop Ice Maker, 9 Cubes in 6 Mins, 26lbs in 24Hrs, 2 Sizes of Bullet Ice, Auto-Cleaning, Portable Ice…

(352)

$69.99 (as of April 25, 2025 01:17 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Amazon Echo Show 21 (newest model), Full HD 21" kitchen hub for home organization, with built-in Fire TV and Alexa

(1326)

$399.99 (as of April 25, 2025 17:22 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Ring Spotlight Cam Plus, Battery | Two-Way Talk, Color Night Vision, and Security Siren (2022 release) - White

(17705)

$119.99 (as of April 25, 2025 01:17 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

USANOOKS Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Grey - 12 Pcs (12.5"x12.5") - High Performance - 1200 Washes,…

(13729)

$8.98 (as of April 25, 2025 01:17 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Rust-Oleum 2X Automotive Enamel Custom Spray 5-in-1 Spray Paint, 12 oz, Gloss Clear

(148)

$9.97 (as of April 25, 2025 17:22 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)