.
.
.
When we – and that’s the royal “we” – wrote at the conclusion of our War and Peace-length litany of OC Fair Board chairman Dave Ellis’ misdeeds that “His long streak of impunity is coming to an end… the shadows are closing around him… etc. etc.” many of you no doubt said to yourselves, “Those Vern – they’re just indulging in magical thinking against a guy they find reprehensible; casting silly imprecations they hope will stick; people like Dave Ellis never get busted; and Vern are tilting at windmills as usual.”
Well, now we have one word for you, and that word is “WINNING!”
As you may recall from our piece, Mr. Ellis has been involved in at least as much hinkiness up in San Bernardino County, where he and District Attorney Mike Ramos are thick as thieves, as he has in his own county (where DA Rackauckas just doesn’t bother going after politically-connected criminals.)
Well, you know who doesn’t give a rat’s ass how much the local DA likes you? The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that’s who! Our invaluable pals at InlandPolitics.com filled us in yesterday on the web inexorably closing on Dave and his cronies up there, now that the Feds, and wiretaps, are involved!
Some choice excerpts:
Information is starting to spill out as federal agents and prosecutors bear down on political and governmental activities in San Bernardino County.
And what is being said is alarming.
A common and also troubling thread within the information coming to light is none other than O.C.-based consultant David Ellis, owner of Delta Partners LLC and The David Ellis Group.
Ellis, a long-time political operative in both the O.C. and Inland Empire, has a reputation for a “Take no prisoners.” or “It’s better to do it and ask for forgiveness later” attitude.
It’s an attitude that has kept him on the outer fringe of regulatory and legal hassles.
…
However all of this may soon change.
In San Bernardino County, Ellis has no problem letting it be known that he’s the political right arm of District Attorney Mike Ramos.
A position which clearly has given him broad latitude in operating in the county unchecked.
A relationship Ellis has been able to parlay into handsome “no-bid” contracts from the San Bernardino County Employees Retirement Association (SBCERA) and Yucaipa Valley Water District.
However, what’s coming to light now is more than just politics as usual.
An individual using the power of government in plotting to neutralize political speech, in other words donors, while favoring his allies is different.
It’s the type of activity which leads to leveraging the power of law enforcement in a highly unethical and potentially illegal manner.
All with the cover, protection and blessing of a county prosecutor.
City of Upland
First, it has become known that Ellis was heavily involved in the 2008 mayoral and city council election campaigns in Upland.
A successful campaign which opposed recently-appointed Upland Mayor Ray Musser, while supporting indicted Mayor John “J.P.” Pomierski and sitting councilman Ken Willis.
A campaign where Ellis’ connection to Ramos was employed.
Sources are telling InlandPolitics.com that behind the scenes in the Pomierski-Willis campaign was the Lewis Group of Companies.
The Lewis Group of Companies is a billion dollar plus developer headquartered in Upland.
The Lewis Group is also a strong ally and donor to Ramos.
Apparently, in 2008, Ellis made verbal agreements with the late David Lewis, to keep the Lewis name “visibly” out of the election.
Ellis was successful. No one knew of the Lewis Group’s backing of Pomierski and Willis.
Lewis, an executive-vice president and one heir to the family fortune, who several sources report, was cooperating as an informant in an ongoing investigation into county corruption, committed suicide at his Las Vegas home last year.
An terrible event that was barely covered by the local media. It seems the Lewis family worked frantically to make the news of the young executives passing fade quickly.
And it did.
Very few in Upland political circles believe Lewis killed himself. The common speculation is his death was a homicide.
A shotgun wound to the chest is very painful and not always immediate. Many agree it’s a method of suicide that seems incompatible to Lewis.
The extent of the Lewis Group’s campaign support is unknown at this time. Only the players, and federal investigators, really know.
Victorville Meltdown
Next we have the City of Victorville. A city currently in financial disarray.
Victorville, in its own way, is a different version of Bell, California.
Many sources believe Ellis client, William “Buck” Johns, President of O.C.-based Inland Energy is a key figure behind Victorville’s financial meltdown.
Those sources are most likely correct in their assumptions.
Ellis has been Johns’ political operative in Victorville for a significant number of years. The San Bernardino County Grand Jury has reportedly been examining Ellis’ more recent campaign tactics and mailed literature used in Victorville elections.
Multiple investigations involving Victorville’s financial transactions have been ongoing for some time.
However those investigations have garnered a new ally.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the investigatory arm of the U.S. Department of Justice has now joined the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and the San Bernardino County Grand Jury, in examining Victorville.
The SEC has been investigating to determine if the city misled bond investors by way of inadequate disclosure of risk.
The USCIS has been investigating the city’s failed EB-5 Worker Visa Program. A program Victorville paid Johns handsomely to initiate.
In what is described as an unusual and rare move, the USCIS terminated the Victorville EB-5 Program late last year.
…Sources report one of the focuses of federal investigators is alleged questionable contracts and payments that former city manager Jon Roberts approved at the direction of former Mayor Terry Caldwell.
Payments which benefited Johns and reportedly done without council approval.
Many believe Johns turned Victorville into his own private piggy-bank to the detriment of the city’s residents.
Now it looks like all the feeding at the trough is coming to an end.
…
[more about Ellis & Johns’ Victorville Power Plant ripoff, the Shahvand Aryana underage raves, and Ellis’ ruination of the San Bernardino County Employees Retirement Association, which I went into at length in my earlier piece]
…
What’s about to significantly complicate matters for many players here is the fact that one source says significant court-ordered electronic surveillance has been ongoing for some time now.
Surveillance of the audio recording type.
Sources also indicate some individuals may have crossed the line.
In various conversations, sources say Ellis and his clients discuss political tactics, including active and potential criminal prosecutions, which benefit the political and business interest of his various clients.
The aforementioned, and other conversations involving discussions on how best to impact political and business enemies may come to light shortly.
Expect the FBI stay in San Bernardino County to be protracted.
Shit, down here in the OC we’ll be happy when Jerry Brown takes this crook off the Fair Board before he causes any more damage! Oh, jail time we wouldn’t complain about either.
Where’s his cheerleader(s)????
Off shredding documents ?
Don’t know, gericault. A lot of people have read this today, but they are all very quiet.
Vern did you see the front page of today’s LA Times LAT EXTRA page; an expose on your boy ellis amigo Upland mayor John Pomierski unceremonious reign that ended with Pomierski in shackles.This could be another fan favorite of your readers.
This assclown ought to rent a gun and buy a bullet,and save all of us upstanding taxpayer commoners the money for both his trial and incarceration.Hey by the way who gets the top bunk, ellis or johns?
I’ve heard that Johns is “short.” So Bottom Bunk for Buck!
Rent a gun?……This guy is a REPUBLICAN……..they ALL own guns…
Ah, any word about the guy Nativo Lopez? that’s the name i could not remember in an earlier post about mexican fraud.
Nope, haven’t seen hide nor hair of him. When was that stuff, what decade? Before I was paying attention to local politics anyway.
At any rate I haven’t noticed Nativo affecting my life, like Dave Ellis does.
Story about Nativo in this morning’s Register. Judge almost ordered him to Patton State Hospital (mental) but backed off after a psychiatrist said he was not insane, apparently just defiant. From this I conclude that his fate remains in the hands of a judge. Perhaps a better fate would be to put P Guardian John Williams in charge of his affairs! (before Williams loses that authority, which sounds imminent)
And then when justice DOES take its course, put Nativo in charge of Ellis’ and Buck Johns’ cell block.
I suspect that these FBI wiretaps also covered conversations about the sale of the Fair. I think we can look forward to a protracted FBI stay in Orange County next. Sometimes the good guys do win. Great reporting!
Wiretaps would be fantastic. I can’t imagine Ellis ever telling the truth about the fairgrounds.
The blog post you reference was written by Jim Erwin who is charged with 25 felonies including, perjury, conspiracy, and numerous violations of the political reform act. It is alleged he orchestrated a $102 million legal settlement for a developer using blackmail and coercion. As a public official he failed to report a developer’s private airplane trip to New York, a 5 star hotel stay, $15,000 Rolex watch, and the all-important happy ending from a hooker after a long day flying in luxury. His preliminary hearing is set for April. Google him. He’s a helluva source to be quoting in your blog.
My, my, my. Is that really the anonymous blogger of Inland Politics .com? Not purer than the driven snow, huh? Would any of what you say make his info presented here untrue? 90% of it is public record, and the rest should be soon enough!
I’m not in the confirming or denying business, but when we walk the dark streets finding out what crooks are up to, we sometimes talk to other crooks (or accused crooks.) Or was that just in the movies?
Easy Dave oh I mean “tool”.Mama always told ya that the past is always in front of ya.Guess mama was right huh? Are you doing those special exercises; where you are going you are really going to have to stretch yourself or at least parts of you.
Gee tool (perfect handle by the way) I mean Dave, sounds like the hooker might have jerked you off too.Way too much knowledge to just be a casual observer of Vern’s brilliance.You should only know how many are delighting in your total destruction at the hands of this gifted maestro.Hey at least Geracult’s wife doesn’t try to bang his buddies husbands or son in laws.
Erwin’s Arrest Warrant … good reading for a tool like Vern:
http://www.pe.com/multimedia/pdf/2010/20100211_postmus.pdf
Whatever. Are you an Ellis tool then? Dave’s done a lot more harm to society than this Erwin fellow, that’s for sure.
Here’s the press release on Vern’s information sourcesarrest. Note the $220,000 in bail. Make ya sort of jealous Vern?
http://www.pe.com/multimedia/pdf/2009/20090320_erwin_arrest.pdf
Vern, Erwin’s bankrupt too. Word on street is your piano gigs aren’t doing too profitable. Are you paying your bills? Wanna see Erwin’s Chapter 7? Gericault (Greg Ridge) gotta job yet? Or is mama still supporting you? Chapter 7 sneaking up on you?
Wow, look at the Power Tool go! Dave is getting his money’s worth with you! I’m just sitting here approving, approving your comments by the way. What you got next?
I gotta job…..digging up dirt on Ellis is what I do in my spare time for fun, it’s been getting a lot easier lately. Seems that money/scam tree might have dried up. He might start having a tough time having people answer his phone calls now that the FBI has been keeping him under court oredered audio surveillance. We’ll wait and see……I can just read what I find written. Look a new one.
Appers he helped bankrupt another municipality just like Orange County.
http://inlandpolitics.com/blog/2011/03/13/inlandpolitics-victorville-likely-bankrupt/
Vernie … here’s your sources 2nd arrest for being a scumbag. You get your information from the cream of the crop. Still taking the bus to your piano gigs?
http://www.sbsun.com/ci_14372397?IADID=Search-www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com
Any relation?
Vernie you tool … did you miss this one? Jim Erwin gets his nob polished by the Human Relations Director while he’s the head of the deputy sheriff’s union negotiating 3 at 50 contract with her? Big investigation. Big Atty. General involvement. Big divorce. You work with real classy folks.
http://www.sbsun.com/ci_4304287?IADID=Search-www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com
Once of the greatest Republicans of all time (Abraham Lincoln) once said “I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”
The only people I can imagine that would defend Ellis are probably just as knee deep in the filth as he is.
Hear the ol boy’s are havin a ceremonial wake for Ellis down at Gulfstream tonight.Maybe a little too early for that, but you know how the Irish love to drink this time of year.Oh on second thought you boys are right, he’s fucked.What are the odds of Monahan being sober at all this weekend? More a troll than a leprechaun!
What a tool…..
Tool, maybe you set Beazley up the same way you did Erwin and all the other folks that take the hit for you. Isn’t that why you call yourself the Tool, Dave? You get others to sign documents and do the other dirty deeds necessary for you to score the big bucks, and then laugh all the way to the bank.
You really are a tool, to others’ destruction. The more money you steal, because that’s what it is, the more arrogant you become and feel the need to ridicule others, particularly those who might not be as crafty as you are being a thief.
Unfortunately your money has not bought you any integrity, and certainly ethics of any sort went down the toilet a long time ago. That is if you ever had any before.
You must have had one effed up upbringing, or the only skills you have are to scheme ways to take other people’s money. A mastermind is what you are. Sort of like Charles Manson. He got others to kill for him. Eventually he paid the price. Soon the only bus you will be riding is the one that takes crooks to jail.
Time, great observations.But money cannot and will not ever buy integrity or ethical conduct.That is why I had to laugh at the tool’s earlier attacks on truth tellers like Vern and this Geracult person.ellis is now and probably throughout his entire adult and possibly even earlier, been both morally and ethically bankrupt.The lowest of the low, the most filthy of the filth.In relation to the earlier discussed matter of the fairground sale attempt,beazley is quite simply a lie living, psychotic failure, at every endeavor he has ever attempted.He was complicit in the entire mess and clueless about who he was taking orders from, or that in the end,ellis preyed upon beazley’s grievous and insipid behaviors.Justice always find a way to bring those who behave in such ways to their knees.
Wow Dave,
I mean “Tool”.
Struck a nerve did we. I see it’s getting harder for “you” to hide these days.
How do you put? Now that all your laundry is out there, there’s gonna be less “cheese” for you.
Big Smile! Big Smile!
Is the Tool related to Anne-Michelle and SBCo. DA Mikey’s Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation?
Bad Boyz, bad boyz, what u gonna do… when the FBI comes for u?