Tag Archive for: Chula Vista

Photo of gavel, law books and scales of justice on a wooden table.

Former Chula Vista City Councilmember Andrea Cardenas Sentenced on Grand Theft Charges

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that defendant Andrea Cardenas, 32, a former Chula Vista City Councilmember, was sentenced on August 28 to two years of formal probation for committing two felony counts of grand theft. She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of volunteer work. The Probation Department and the District Attorney’s Office requested she serve 180 days in county jail, but she was ultimately sentenced to credit for time served of one day custody.

“Our dedicated prosecution team conducted a thorough investigation in which they served 27 search warrants to examine financial and email accounts,” DA Stephan said. “The investigation proved that Cardenas had engaged in multiple fraud schemes over several years. In these types of cases, we often rely on the public, the media, or people who suspect wrongdoing to report potential public integrity crimes to our office so we can investigate.”

Should Cardenas violate the terms of her probation, she could be ordered to serve up to two years and eight months in jail. Cardenas pleaded guilty to fraud, related to funds obtained from the federal Paycheck Protection Program and the state Employment Development Department. Cardenas cheated the U.S. government out of $176,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, which she laundered and used to pay for personal expenses such as her own campaign debt. She also unlawfully applied for over $28,000 in unemployment benefits. 

Superior Court Judge Rachel Cano ordered that Cardenas’ terms of probation also include that she submits to search and seizure, must operate any business legally and comply with all rules and regulations of such business including being licensed, paying taxes, and comply with any campaign finance laws. She must also pay back the full amount she stole including $176,227 to the Small Business Administration, $28,908 to the Employment Development Department, and an amount to be determined to the Franchise Tax Board.

Cardenas worked for a political consulting firm called Grassroots Resources, started in 2016 by her brother, Jesus Cardenas. She had the title of Director of Community Engagement, but really held a role as Chief Operating Officer. In 2019, Grassroots Resources began acting as a payroll service for one of their clients, Harbor Collective, a marijuana dispensary. In early 2021, Grassroots Resources was being pressured to pay off debts including money owed to TMC Direct, a political mailing company.

In February 2021, Jesus and Andrea Cardenas filed for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan from the Small Business Administration via PayPal. They misrepresented multiple items on the application, including: that Grassroots had 34 employees, when in reality 30 of these individuals worked for Harbor Collective; that they were not engaged in activity illegal under federal law (marijuana dispensaries are not legal under federal law); that they were not a business engaged in political consulting; and that the loan funds would be used to cover payroll expenses. The loan was approved for $176,227. 

On May 3, 2021, $176,227 of PPP loan funds were deposited into a Grassroots’ business account. Over the course of the next two weeks, the money was transferred between two different Grassroots accounts. From there, the Cardenas siblings used the PPP funds to pay off multiple personal expenses including campaign debt.

In a separate fraud scheme in 2020, Cardenas unlawfully applied for unemployment benefits and received $28,908 from the Employment Development Department. She misrepresented on applications that she was not working and not receiving any income. However, Grassroots Resources, for which she was working, was fully operational during that election year handling the campaigns of multiple candidates and other entities.

This case was prosecuted by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Unit. Team members included Deputy District Attorneys Chandelle Boyce, Hector Jimenez, Leon Schorr, District Attorney Investigators James Hawksley, Justin Bostic, and Forensic Accountant Kevin Boyne. The investigation was also aided by the Department of Homeland Security Covid Fraud Unit. 

“Our office remains committed to prosecuting cases involving misuse of public funds, political corruption, and criminal misconduct of government officials,” DA Stephan said. “The goals of these prosecutions are not solely to obtain the maximum time in custody but often include other goals like making sure that individuals who engage in corruption are not in public office and can’t seek public office in the future, as an example.”

Maya Millete Case News Conference

DA Charges Larry Millete with Murder

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that her office has filed a murder charge against Larry Millete, 40, the husband of May “Maya” Millete, 40, a Chula Vista, California mother of three who has been missing since January. In addition to the murder charge, Millete is also charged with illegal possession of an assault weapon. If convicted, he faces life in state prison.

[WATCH NEWS CONFERENCE HERE]

Millete was arrested today by the Chula Vista Police Department. Following Millete’s arrest, he was booked into a San Diego County Jail and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday at 1:30 in the South Bay Courthouse located in Chula Vista.

“Whenever one of our community goes missing, we hope for their safe return,” DA Stephan said. “Sometimes missing persons cases remain unsolved, but as the evidence unfolded in this case, it pointed in one direction— that May was murdered. As we make this announcement, I know the hearts of the community are with May’s family, her three young children, and everyone who knew and loved her.”

California law allows prosecutors to file murder charges even though May’s body has not been found. Specifically, case law holds that successfully disposing of a victim’s body does not entitle a murderer to avoid prosecution.

The District Attorney’s Office filed this case based on evidence that was developed during a nine-month investigation based on the collaboration of the Chula Vista Police Department, which led the investigation and a dedicated team from the DA’s Office along with support from the FBI and NCIS.

“Today is a step toward justice, but it does not mark the end of our investigation,” said Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy. “The Chula Vista Police Department will continue to seek answers for May’s family.”

In San Diego County, there is an average of 13 domestic violence-related homicides each year. These types of murders make up 14 % of all homicides in the county.

If you or someone you know is being abused by a current or former partner, call the National
Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) for confidential support and assistance.