CA: Santa Clara County Sheriff's supporters indicted for selling CC permits

[Alamo]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08...-corruption-probe-into-concealed-gun-permits/

The indictment marks the first criminal case to come out of a decade’s worth of complaints regarding political favoritism in [Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie] Smith’s issuing of the hard-to-get concealed-carry permits. [Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff] Rosen said Friday that an 18-month investigation uncovered a two-tiered policy for the concealed gun permits: a process for regular citizens whose applications were destined for a filing cabinet, and another for VIPs whose applications were fast-tracked for approval.

A Sheriff's captain, two attorneys, and a "gun parts maker", political supporters of the Sheriff, were indicted on felony charges. The Sheriff herself was not indicted at this time, but the DA said, "We are not done."

The specific scheme covered by the indictments is said to be political donations by executive security company based in Seattle, apparently with clients like Jeff Zuckerberg, in exchange for the security company employees (about 10 or so) getting concealed carry permits. The story says the employees were directed to fill out permit applications with false info indicating they were county residents. No indictments of company yet, but again DA says more charges are coming.

The Sheriff's captain is also charged with falsifying proficiency tests for six other people not related to the security company, including an county supervisor. It seems they were getting renewals without having to complete the required range test.

Santa Clara County issues only about 150 permits per year total.

Lots more at the link, RTWT.

 

[BugI02]

Guns for me (or my bodyguards) but not for thee. Typical progressive hypocrisy

 

[OakRiver]

When you put the rights of citizens behind a paywall, with limited accountability, what do you expect will happen?

 

[drillsgt]

This is basically how it was in MI before 'shall issue' happened.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Gun laws=springboard for corruption.

Always have been, always will be.

 

[cosermann]

Yep, every state is not a shall issue state has corruption along these lines. It's just a matter of exposing it.

 

[Jaybird1980]

Gun laws=springboard for corruption.

Always have been, always will be.

This x100

And it's not just limited to gun laws.

 

[actaeon277]

I seem to remember this happening in New York and New Jersey.

 

[Alamo]

County Undersheriff, Sheriff’s Captain, Local Businessman, and Apple’s Chief Security Officer Charged with Bribery for CCW Licenses - District Attorney - County of Santa Clara (sccgov.org)

County Undersheriff, Sheriff’s Captain, Local Businessman, and Apple’s Chief Security Officer Charged with Bribery for CCW Licenses
For release on November 23, 2020


CONTACT:


Sean Webby
Public Communications Officer
(408) 209-8064




County Undersheriff, Sheriff’s Captain, Local Businessman, and Apple’s Chief Security Officer
Charged with Bribery for CCW Licenses


A grand jury has issued two indictments​ charging the Santa Clara County Undersheriff, a previously indicted sheriff’s captain, a local business owner, and the head of Global Security for Apple, Inc. with bribery.


Undersheriff Rick Sung , 48, and Captain James Jensen, 43, are accused of requesting bribes for concealed firearms (CCW) licenses, while insurance broker Harpreet Chadha, 49, and Apple’s Chief Security Officer Thomas Moyer, 50, are accused of offering bribes to get them.


The defendants will be arraigned on January 11, 2021 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. If convicted, the defendants could receive prison time.


DA Jeff Rosen said: “Undersheriff Sung and Captain Jensen treated CCW licenses as commodities and found willing buyers. Bribe seekers should be reported to the District Attorney’s Office, not rewarded with compliance.”


The two-year investigation by the District Attorney’s Office revealed that Undersheriff Sung, aided by Captain Jensen in one instance, held up the issuance of CCW licenses, refusing to release them until the applicants gave something of value.


In the case of four CCW licenses withheld from Apple employees, Undersheriff Sung and Cpt. Jensen managed to extract from Thomas Moyer a promise that Apple would donate iPads to the Sheriff’s Office. The promised donation of 200 iPads worth close to $70,000 was scuttled at the eleventh hour just after August 2, 2019, when Sung and Moyer learned of the search warrant that the District Attorney’s Office executed at the Sheriff’s Office seizing all its CCW license records.


In the case of the CCW license withheld from Harpreet Chadha, Sung managed to extract from Chadha a promise of $6,000 worth of luxury box seat tickets to a San Jose Sharks hockey game at the SAP Center on Valentine’s Day 2019. Sheriff Laurie Smith’s family members and some of her biggest political supporters held a small celebration of her re-election as Sheriff in the suite.


The various fees required to obtain a CCW license generally total between $200 and $400. Under state law, it is a crime to carry a concealed firearm without a CCW license. Although state law requires that the applicant demonstrate “good cause” for the license, in addition to completing a firearms course and having good moral character, the sheriff has broad discretion in determining who should qualify.





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​


Last updated: 11/23/2020 7:49 AM

 

[cbhausen]

Mother****ers...

 

[qwerty]

Libs... If there is a dollar to be made, they will find it. I remember my folks having to do a Kangaroo Rat study before building a garage in CA. The new West Coast needs to be further East.

 

[Alamo]

I'm just stunned that there's anyone in California actually willing to investigate and prosecute this. Sheriff whatshername must have really pissed off someone up the chain, not cut them in or something.

 

[KellyinAvon]

I'm just stunned that there's anyone in California actually willing to investigate and prosecute this. Sheriff whatshername must have really pissed off someone up the chain, not cut them in or something.

This!!! Somebody got an iPhone 12 instead of an iPhone 12 pro, two-year investigation? Sounds like they were trying to get more bling. Didn’t the same crap happen in New York City a while back?

 

[actaeon277]

If you have the money and/or know the right people, you don't have to worry about the laws for the peons.

 

[BugI02]

This!!! Somebody got an iPhone 12 instead of an iPhone 12 pro, two-year investigation? Sounds like they were trying to get more bling. Didn’t the same crap happen in New York City a while back?

Yes. We called it 'shill issue'

 

[jamil]

County Undersheriff, Sheriff’s Captain, Local Businessman, and Apple’s Chief Security Officer Charged with Bribery for CCW Licenses - District Attorney - County of Santa Clara (sccgov.org)

Wait. Apple employees wanted CCW's? I imagine if the story gets much wind they could lose twitter followers over that.

 

[Alamo]

Update: Judge Dismisses Case Against Apple Executive Indicted in Campaign-Cash-for-Gun-Permits Scandal – NBC Bay Area

Apparently other prosecutions are still in process.

 

[phylodog]

If you have the money and/or know the right people, you don't have to worry about the laws for the peons.

Update: Judge Dismisses Case Against Apple Executive Indicted in Campaign-Cash-for-Gun-Permits Scandal – NBC Bay Area

Apparently other prosecutions are still in process.

Uh....

 

[actaeon277]

Uh....

I'm right. It happens all the time, mostly at work.
It's a burden I must bear.

 

[Alamo]

The good news:
California Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith was removed from office for corruption convictions, including selling CCW permits for contributions and gifts.



The bad news:

The convictions were “civil” not “criminal” so she is not a felon and will retain her pension benefits, which could run a couple hundred thou or more per year, it seems.

i’ll bet she even gets to keep her concealed carry permit.

Convicted Santa Clara County sheriff keeps retirement benefits - San José Spotlight

Former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith is still eligible to receive her retirement benefits, despite being convicted of several felony-equivalent charges in a civil trial last month. Some local leaders say she doesn’t deserve it.

sanjosespotlight.com