The April 19 arrest of Stockton Unified trustee AngelAnn Flores on felony charges of embezzlement and other offenses raises unsettling questions not only about Flores but county law enforcement.
Flores was a whistleblower and a reformer. She alone on Stockton Unified School District’s board fought a $7 million bogus air filter scam. She fought the backroom deal to give controversial then-Superintendent John Ramirez Jr. a ludicrously lucrative severance in violation of open meeting laws. She called in the FBI to investigate district corruption.
And she alone has been arrested.
“I suspect everyone who works with AngelAnn will be harassed, abused and have SWAT pounding on their door,” Flores’ attorney, former San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar, said in an interview.
Or maybe Flores is guilty. If she abused her credit card or committed any other misappropriation, so be it. Time will tell.
Even if she is guilty, though, the small amount of money apparently at issue, the way she was singled out, and treated like Al Capone, are, at the very least, bad optics.
This goes back to two blistering Grand Jury reports that found Stockton Unified’s “management and Board of Trustees were not adhering to policies and procedures regarding financial transactions and funds were not being used in the best interest of students, families, staff, and district …”
“The Board of Trustees …” the report continued, “showed consistent disregard for Board Bylaws. The Grand Jury found a lack of transparency and apparent conflicts …”
Additionally, a special state audit found “probable fraud.”
In other words, Ramirez and a majority of school board members removed the guard rails that ensured public money was used responsibly, jobs filled with competent people, and contracts awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.
That led to open season at Stockton Unified. On top of the $7 million air filter fiasco, millions of dollars remain unaccounted for. Many good people lost their jobs.
As all this transpired, the 209 Times — a misinformation site run by Motecuzoma Sanchez — never uttered a peep about the negligent board, the air filter scam, Ramirez, or any issue the Grand Jury raised. It attacked only Flores.
Sanchez worked for the district at the time. He was director of the Family Resource Centers, which offer food and classes to district families.
District officials later learned he was also heading a pay-parking operation on an unused district parking lot by the city Events Center. It’s unclear whether the operation was authorized by the district.
Event attendees were reportedly charged up to $30 for parking by helpers Sanchez recruited, alleged Verber Salazar.
“The parking lot transactions were handled on a cash-only basis, limiting the ability to document and provide accurate accounting,” Verber Salazar said.
Flores learned of the parking operation only when it was shut down. She cried foul.
“Ms. Flores raised concerns because board policy requires all requests for use of SUSD property be submitted in written form, detailing the use and liability issues prior to any authorization,” Verber Salazar said.
She added, “It is alleged in an email from (Chief Business Official) Joann Juarez and (former Interim Superintendent, who followed Ramirez) Traci Miller that there was a verbal agreement between Motec Sanchez and John Ramirez. However, no emails were provided to support this statement and no evidence was offered as to the Ramirez-Motec verbal agreement.”
No proceeds of this operation were turned over to Stockton Unified until district management learned of it and shut it down. Sanchez deposited an amount around $20,000 to the 1852 Foundation, a district nonprofit that collects donations and helps fund extracurricular activities.
When contacted by Stocktonia, Melinda Meza, SUSD’s director of communications and media relations, released a statement: “The district consulted with legal counsel regarding money raised from parking lot fees and found that the funds must be used for student benefit. The money was deposited in 1852 Foundation and was used for Holiday Express where 10 families from each of the 55 schools received gift bags with books, toys and gift card.”
The statement did not confirm whether the parking lots were authorized. Flores continued to press the issue at the time.
“Ms. Flores continued to follow up with Ms. Miller about any evidence to support this alleged verbal agreement, which fell outside the scope of the board policy,” Verber Salazar said. “Ms. Miller refused to provide any of that information.”
Miller sought appointment to full-time superintendent. “Originally Ms. Flores supported Ms. Miller,” Verber Salazar said. “However it became clear Ms. Miller was not going to investigate the alleged fraud of certain individuals.”
Relations between Flores and Miller soured.
Traci Miller did not return a call for comment. She’ll likely have to answer questions on the stand, depending on criminal proceedings to come.
Sanchez’ position was eliminated in June of 2023.
Emailed a list of questions, Sanchez replied that the parking lot operation was “fully authorized.”
He threatened to sue. “I already have my lawyers on deck.”
Sanchez — and the 209 Times writer Frank Gayaldo — helped Ron Freitas get elected district attorney. They helped Sheriff Pat Withrow get elected. They’re all friends — possibly with the implicit understanding that if they’re not friends, the 209 Times will smear them like it did to their predecessors. As Mayor Kevin Lincoln is finding out, after declining to second Sanchez’ nomination to the Planning Commission.
A year ago, Freitas announced he was opening an investigation into Stockton Unified. Turns out the Sheriff’s Office was investigating as well. According to The Stockton Record, Traci Miller had reported “issues of concern regarding SUSD board members, specifically the board president,” Why Miller found “issues of concern” with Flores and no other is unclear.
On Tuesday morning, Nov. 14, about 10 deputies — enough to raid a crack house — served a warrant on Flores’ home and office. Deputies seized her electronics (and have yet to return them) ushered her to the Sheriff’s Office, and grilled her for hours.
According to Flores, many questions were not about financial misdeeds but the FBI investigation, who the feds were investigating, and for what, and what they knew.
Another irregularity involves what sheriff’s investigators did not do: simultaneously raid the houses of the other board members. Or anyone else, though the alleged corruption in Stockton Unified was broad. Typically, raids are staged simultaneously so other suspects don’t have the chance to destroy evidence.
Months passed with no developments. On April 9, Flores filed a claim, the precursor to a lawsuit, against San Joaquin County. Her claim alleges that Sheriff deputies who raided her violated her 4th Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure and tarnished her reputation. County officials have 45 days to respond.
In a way, they already have.
On April 19, six to eight Sheriff’s deputies — enough for a “high-risk stop” of a violent felon — pulled Flores over, handcuffed her, and hauled her to jail. Verber Salazar said Flores told her members of the press were at the arrest. The sheriff’s department released a statement saying the media was not alerted. Verber Salazar said she spoke to a detective who said the media was there, but were not called ahead of time and happened upon the situation.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department did release a statement about the arrest, saying in part “The location and timing of the traffic stop were selected with the utmost consideration for the community. In an effort to minimize potential distress to the children, parents, and staff at the charter school where Trustee Flores appears to be working, deputies conducted the traffic stop after she had left the vicinity of the school located on the 2500 block of West Lane.”
Flores is charged with four felony charges: Making false or fraudulent claims, Embezzlement by public officer, Grand theft: money/labor/property, and Embezzlement by public or private officer.
The exact amount Flores is accused of misappropriating has not been made public. Freitas’ office so far has rebuffed six discovery requests by the defense.
But unless that amount is substantial, the county will have spent tens of thousands of dollars to recoup a piddling sum — suggesting the case really is not about money at all.
My personal view is while no one allied with the 209 Times deserves the presumption of guilt, neither do they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
This could be a case of lawmen doing their job. If so, may they continue bringing corrupt officials to justice.
Or, “It’s clear retaliation,” Verber Salazar said.
Retaliation for monkey-wrenching the district board majority’s shady agenda, for standing up to the 209 Times, for calling out Sanchez’ parking lot operation as a scam and opposing his employ, Verber-Salazar said. A message designed to intimidate others who oppose the 209 Times and its chosen candidates.
In Verber Salazar’s view, the county’s two top law enforcement officials are willing to do the bidding of the 209 Times.
“Nobody is safe,” she said.
Not necessarily. It may be that the Sheriff and D.A. got the goods on Flores and found themselves in a position to both enforce the law and do a solid for a political ally. Best of both worlds.
Withrow’s office has stated publicly its investigation was nonpolitical and evidence-based. A spokesman for Freitas said, “Because it is an ongoing investigation, the DA’s Office cannot comment at this time.”
I also asked Freitas’ spokesperson if it is appropriate for a district attorney to associate with Sanchez. Perhaps allying with the 209 Times was just realpolitik for an underdog challenging an incumbent DA. But Freitas socializes with Sanchez.
After all, Sanchez runs a highly unethical “news” site. His recent nomination to the planning commission was not seconded by the city council and failed after a city council member called him an “embarrassment to the city.” He also resigned from the charter review commission before the council’s vote to remove. His former associate Xochitl Paderes recently served him with a lawsuit alleging defamation and failure to pay wages (reportedly, Sanchez ducked process servers for days). The Grand Jury is reportedly investigating the parking lot operation.
And someone is pressing an assault charge against Sanchez. Or trying to.
On March 7, Sanchez and Freitas went to the fights in Stockton, sharing a table with Mayor Lincoln and others.
Just before 9 pm, Sanchez got in a fistfight with a banker named Eddie Lira. Later that night, Lira called police to report Sanchez assaulted him. He said he wants charges pressed.
Reportedly several witnesses corroborate Sanchez’ version, which he wrote about on the 209 Times. “My statements are already public on the matter.”
There are supposedly five witnesses who back Lira’s account: a bartender, two friends and two strangers.
Freitas has filed no charges.
Michael Fitzgerald’s column runs on Wednesdays. On Twitter and Instagram as Stocktonopolis. Email: mfitzgeraldstockton@gmail.com.
Clarification: This story has been altered to reflect the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department’s statement that the local media was not alerted to the arrest of AngelAnn Flores, and that Flores’ attorney, Tori Verber Salazar, stated she was also informed by a detective that any media presence at the scene was happenstance.
The 209 Times and its leader are a menace to the well being of Stockton, Ca. The more I understand the more I believe it is controlling our local government’s operations to the detriment of our citizens. People of Stockton need to withdraw their association and support from the 209 Times and its leader! Do what is best for Stockton.
As to the arrest; I reserve judgement until it is all said and done! Seems that all the facts have not been revealed!
It was announced yesterday that 209 Times founders Motec Sanchez and Frank Gayaldo were named in a defamation lawsuit. Along with criminal assault charges, Sanchez is facing his own legal nightmare.
Me thinks there is more to the story. SUSD still under FBI investigation .. hmm
Stockton residents- we must hold
Our political leaders (those currently serving or/and running for office) accountable. City/County/SUSD leaders need to cintinue to publicly denounce 209 Times – so our city can move forward on a positive path! Citizens of Stockton- pay attention who you are voting for in November! Vote for leaders who are distanced away – and pushing back from the toxic and devisive 209times.
It was announced yesterday that 209 Times founders Motec Sanchez and Frank Gayaldo were named in a defamation lawsuit. Along with criminal assault charges, Sanchez is facing his own legal nightmare.
The story by Mike Fitzgerald concerning SUSD,
Angel Ann Flores, the county sheriff and district attorney, etc. provides an essential review and perspective of events and accusations that (until this writing) have not been covered with objectivity.
Thank you Mike Fitzgerald and Stocktonia!
Freitas made sure the arrest was made VERY public, but refuses to provide the public with the most basic information which justifies his decision. STRICTLY POLITICS!
It appears,as it has been historically necessary,in our country that a journalist will get to the bottom of all this and tie in the loose information. Very thankful we still have a free press.
Can’t wait until the F.B.I. investigation gets under way!