Good morning, Stockton.
Almost a year and a half ago, seeking a search warrant for school trustee AngelAnn Flores, sheriff’s investigators laid out the possibility of far-reaching misconduct and financial crimes: secret influence over board members, a board member killing construction fees to enhance a local developer’s profits; and signs consistent with fraud and money laundering in multiple board members’ political campaigns.
Yet the criminal case against Flores – who has pleaded not guilty to counts of embezzlement and insurance fraud – shows almost no sign of the sweeping corruption investigators had discussed in that search warrant affidavit.
Though the search warrant was released to the media by a Superior Court official, most of its claims have never been publicly detailed. Now, a review of the document’s sprawling narrative, by Stocktonia and independent experts, raises new questions about the Sheriff’s Office’s justifications for searching Flores, and facts at the heart of the case.
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Today’s top story
Search warrant affidavit for AngelAnn Flores speculated on far-reaching misconduct. Her charges turned out to be much narrower.
By Aaron Leathley • Stocktonia
Almost a year and a half ago, a San Joaquin County sheriff’s investigator presented a judge with a document that helped launch a criminal case against Stockton school board member AngelAnn Flores.
Across nearly 40 pages, that search warrant affidavit laid out the possibility of far-reaching misconduct and financial crimes: two public figures wielding secret influence over the Stockton Unified School District board; a board member killing construction fees to enhance a local developer’s profits; and signs consistent with fraud and money laundering in multiple board members’ political campaigns.
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