July 23, 2019

USA: FBI Raids Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Headquarters In Downtown Los Angeles As Well As The LADWP Offices in LA City Hall This Monday Morning. ๐Ÿ˜ฆ


CBS Los Angeles published on July 22, 2019: FBI Raids LADWP Offices In Downtown LA. FBI agents served search warrants at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offices in downtown L.A. Monday morning.
CBS2 News, Los Angeles local
written by Staff
Monday July 22, 2019

LOS ANGELES – FBI agents served search warrants at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offices in downtown L.A. Monday morning.

Agents served the warrants before 10 a.m. at two different locations: the LADWP headquarters at 111 N Hope St., as well as City Hall. Video footage showed at least three agents entering the LADWP building.

An FBI spokesperson confirmed to CBS2 that agents were serving the search warrants under a sealed affidavit and would not comment on the nature of the investigation.

No arrests were planned, the FBI said.

“The affidavit in support of the search warrant has been sealed by the court and so I am prohibited from commenting on the nature of the investigation,” the spokesperson said.

LADWP is the largest municipal utility in the U.S., serving more than four million residents.

Last November, the FBI raided L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar’s office and home as part of its investigation into possible bribery, extortion and money laundering at L.A. City Hall focusing on huge real estate investments from Chinese companies.

It’s unclear if Monday’s raids are linked to that case. Huizar has yet to be charged. He has also not resigned. He remains on the city council until his term expires in 2020.

In May, in response to the Huizar investigation, the city council began moving forward an ordinance which would ban candidates running for city elected office from receiving political campaign contributions from real estate developers.

In August of 2015, LADWP reached a $44 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit accusing the agency of over-billing as a result of problematic initiation of a new billing system.

CBS2 has reached out to LADWP for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

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