L.A. County District Attorney raids Huntington Park City Council

The office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney (DA) executed search warrants at 11 locations in Huntington Park in connection with an ongoing public corruption probe. 

The D.A. said that the investigation began in November 2022 and focused on the potential misuse of millions of dollars in public funds for an aquatic center at Salt Lake Park. 

There were reports that numerous items were seized from each location, including public records maintained by the City of Huntington Park, financial paperwork, computers, tablets, cell phones and various forms of electronic equipment. 

Among the locations searched by the Bureau of Investigations are the Huntington Park City Hall, the Office of Public Works, Salt Lake Park, Mayor Karina Macias, Councilman Eduardo Martinez, City Manager Ricardo Reyes, former Councilwoman Graciela Ortiz and former Huntington Park City Official Efren Martinez’ residence, among others.  

“When concerns arise about the use of public funds or the actions of those in office, it is our duty to investigate thoroughly and protect the public’s trust,” said DA Nathan J. Hochman in a statement. 

Huntington Park Vice Mayor Arturo Flores, who took office in September 2022, said he didn’t receive a warrant but started calling for an investigation into the aquatic center last year. 

“Residents from the city kept asking about the progress of the pool project, but I didn’t have an answer,” said Flores.

When he started questioning where the money was, he found red flags. The city paid Upward Solutions, a company specializing in marketing, media relations, community outreach and political campaigns, $5,000 a month for three months, but there were no tangible results. 

Not long after, a recall campaign started against him. Flores was accused of being a woman abuser and an alcoholic and was served with a Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition.

Flores said the recall is being led by former councilwoman Ortiz’ nephew Robert Urtega, who owns Upward Solutions. 

“I said, you're recalling me because there's $4 million that are missing. We're gonna get down to the bottom of it and there's nothing to stop it,” said Flores. 

The following are the locations searched by the Bureau of Investigation:

• City of Huntington Park, City Hall, 6550 Miles Ave., Huntington Park, CA

• City of Huntington Park Public Works (City Yard located east of Salt Lake Park),  6900 Bissell St., Huntington Park, CA

• Salt Lake Park (Proposed site for aquatic center), 3401 E. Florence Ave., Huntington Park, CA

• Residence of Edvin Tsaturyan and Sona Vardikyan (Owners of JT Construction Group, Inc.), Glendale, CA

• Residence of Efren Martinez (former Huntington Park City Official), Los Angeles, CA

• Business Office of Unified Consulting Services, LLC, Huntington Park, CA

• Residence of Ricardo Reyes (current Huntington Park City Manager), Downey, CA

• Residence of Graciela Ortiz (former Huntington Park City Councilmember), Huntington Park, CA

• Residence of Marilyn Sanabria (former Huntington Park City Councilmember), Huntington Park, CA

• Residence of Karina Macias (current Huntington Park Mayor and City Councilmember), Huntington Park, CA

• Residence of Eddie Martinez (current Huntington Park City Councilmember), Huntington Park, CA 

Residents report the raid 

A video published on social media shows the Huntington Park City Hall blocked with yellow tape and various white vehicles outside of the premises. Carlos Cordova, a Huntington Park resident, recorded the video. He said he arrived at City Hall around 9:15 am when he saw all entrances closed and vehicles with the DA logo. 

Cordova runs the Huntington Park Neighborhood Watch Facebook page. He started recording and told people not to fear because it was not ICE-related. 

“It's not an immigration raid, but is something bigger than immigration,” he said on his video. 

Cordova said he overheard officers telling someone else that it’s very likely that the City Hall will be closed the whole day today and it will reopen tomorrow. 

Sources who didn’t want to be identified publicly told CALÓ News former Huntington Park council members and some current council members received search warrants. 

Councilman Jonathan Sanabria said he was at work and did not receive any warrant.

He chose not to provide further comments. 

CALÓ News tried to get a statement from the City of Huntington Park, but a spokesperson said they can’t provide a comment yet due to the search happening at that moment.

CALÓ News contacted the LA County DA office and is waiting for a response from the communications office.

Later, the City released a statement, acknowledging that the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has made visits to current and former city officials. The statement continues to say the City is "committed to cooperating fully with the District Attorney's office throughout the process and remains dedicated to resolving the matter promptly and transparently." 

A Huntington Park spokesperson said they couldn't provide a comment yet due to the search happening today. 

On Monday night, the City Council ousted former Councilmember Esmeralda Castillo because she allegedly doesn’t live in Huntington Park.