Albert Robles
Encyclopedia
Albert T. Robles is an American
politician and former mayor, councilman, treasurer
, and deputy city manager for the City of South Gate, California
. He also served as an elected Director of the Central Basin Municipal Water District in Carson, California
. In 2005 he was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
.
Another politician from Carson shares his name, Albert Robles, who also is a publicly elected Director to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, but in Lakewood, California
, since 1992. He works full time as a criminal defense and real estate attorney. After being charged with Elections Code violations for alleged deceptive mailers, he ran unsuccessfully for District Attorney of Los Angeles County, receiving the second highest percentage of the vote out of 3 candidates in the June 2008 primary. On November 4, 2008, this Albert Robles was easily re-elected to a 5th term on the Water Replenishment Board.
Robles was indicted on federal corruption charges in 2004. This stemmed from his award of contracts worth millions to friends and business associates as well as funneling money through the awarded contracts to himself and family members. He was found guilty of 30 counts of bribery, money laundering, and depriving the electorate. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and ordered to pay the city of South Gate $639,000 in restitution.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and former mayor, councilman, treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, and deputy city manager for the City of South Gate, California
South Gate, California
South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The sixteenth largest city in Los Angeles County, it encompasses . South Gate is located just southeast of downtown Los Angeles It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County...
. He also served as an elected Director of the Central Basin Municipal Water District in Carson, California
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
. In 2005 he was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
.
Another politician from Carson shares his name, Albert Robles, who also is a publicly elected Director to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, but in Lakewood, California
Lakewood, California
Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 80,048 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares...
, since 1992. He works full time as a criminal defense and real estate attorney. After being charged with Elections Code violations for alleged deceptive mailers, he ran unsuccessfully for District Attorney of Los Angeles County, receiving the second highest percentage of the vote out of 3 candidates in the June 2008 primary. On November 4, 2008, this Albert Robles was easily re-elected to a 5th term on the Water Replenishment Board.
Political career
- Robles graduated from the University of California Los Angeles and was a former aide to a Mexican-American legislator.
- In 1991 Robles became the youngest mayor of South Gate at the age of 26.
- In 1992 he was elected to the South Gate City Council by a predominantly Mexican-American electorate.
- Between 1996 and 2001, Robles was elected to and served on the Central Basin Municipal Water District.
- In 1997 Robles was elected to the city treasurer position while continuing to serve on the Water District.
- In 2002 Robles was appointed by the City Council to the Deputy City Manager position.
- In 2003 Robles was recalled along with Mayor Xochitl Ruvalcaba, Vice Mayor Raul Moriel, and Councilwoman Maria Benavides in an election that was monitored by Los Angeles County by order of Governor Gray DavisGray DavisJoseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
. Robles retained his position as Deputy City Manager.
- In 2005 he was convicted on federal corruption charges then sentenced the following year to 10 years in prison.
Legal controversies
Robles was accused of making threatening statements to State Senator Martha Escutia and Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh. He was tried in 2002 but all charges were dismissed when the jury deadlocked on all counts. His attorney argued that his statements were merely the kind of language typical of South Gate politicians and not literal threats.Robles was indicted on federal corruption charges in 2004. This stemmed from his award of contracts worth millions to friends and business associates as well as funneling money through the awarded contracts to himself and family members. He was found guilty of 30 counts of bribery, money laundering, and depriving the electorate. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and ordered to pay the city of South Gate $639,000 in restitution.
See also
- List of California public officials charged with crimes, South Gate