Former L.A. housing official accused of bribery, conspiracy

Federal prosecutors allege that Victor Taracena, who supervised construction projects at the housing authority, arranged for contracts to be awarded to companies controlled by his brothers, Bennett Taracena and Diego Taracena. The two brothers have also been charged. The LAT detailed the allegations in 2007. From the Times:

After those firms received checks from the housing authority, they kicked back payments to Victor Taracena, according to a grand jury indictment unsealed Friday. Taracena, 41, wired at least $41,000 of that to a bank account in Guatemala, and one $8,000 payment specified that the money to Taracena was earmarked for the purchase of property there, the indictment said.