Ex-San Francisco Utilities Head Discovered Responsible of Fraud in Large-Ranging Federal Corruption Probe

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A former head of the San Francisco Public Utilities Fee was discovered responsible of federal fraud prices Friday, changing into the most recent amongst a number of once-powerful metropolis staff felled by a prolonged public corruption probe.

A jury convicted Harlan Kelly, former basic supervisor of the fee, of six out of eight prices involving two fraud schemes, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Prosecutors argued — and jurors agreed — that Kelly tried to steer a metropolis streetlight contract to a neighborhood contractor in change for deeply discounted building work on his house and different presents. Jurors additionally discovered that Kelly lied to a lender with a purpose to purchase a $1.3 million mortgage.

A sentencing date wasn’t instantly set. However Kelly’s legal professional, Brian Getz, mentioned he’d search to dismiss the convictions or enchantment the verdicts, The San Francisco Commonplace reported.

The decision is the most recent win for federal prosecutors in a corruption investigation that began in January 2020 with charges against Mohammed Nuru, the previous director of San Francisco’s public works division and a go-to bureaucrat for mayors for over 20 years. Nuru was all the time obtainable to filter a unclean sidewalk or road nook at their request.

Nuru, who pleaded responsible to steering public contracts and accepting costly presents, is serving a 7-year sentence.

The corruption probe has ensnared greater than a dozen metropolis officers, contractors and distinguished enterprise executives.

Kelly’s legal professional, Brian Getz, mentioned he’d search to dismiss the convictions or enchantment the verdicts, The San Francisco Commonplace reported.

Additionally on Friday, a former senior metropolis constructing inspector caught in the identical investigation was sentenced to 1 12 months and sooner or later in federal jail. Bernard Curran pleaded responsible in December to accepting unlawful funds from two individuals in connection along with his work duties.

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