Builders Queried About Possible SoCal Kickbacks to City Employees

LOS ANGELES-Thousands of developers in Southern California and across the US who have done business in the Inland Empire community of Ontario are being questioned about kickbacks and other favors allegedly demanded by bureaucrats at Ontario City Hall, GlobeSt.com has learned.

No builders are facing criminal charges, says Ontario Police Detective Mike Macias. Rather, but they’re being asked whether or not any Ontario employees has ever asked them for money or other favors to speed up the building process.

Nearly 4,000 letters were mailed this week to developers, contractors and related professionals who have done business with Ontario building officials over the past three years. One LA-based commercial developer who received the mass-mailer tells GlobeSt.com that the letter urges builders to contact Ontario officials if they’ve ever been asked to supply cash or gifts “beyond the scope of normal business.”