CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Federal prosecutors have broadened the criminal investigation surrounding Contra Costa County's assessor's office, seeking years of records connected to major Bay Area developers, a refinery, and dozens of property assessments.
Federal investigators appear to be examining a much wider range of property assessments and business dealings than previously known after last month's FBI raids on the homes and offices of longtime Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer and his elected successor, Vince Robb, according to the Bay Area News Group.
The Bay Area News Group reported that newly obtained federal grand jury subpoenas seek records involving the Martinez Refining Company, members of the Seeno family, and DeNova Homes founder David Sanson, his son Trent Sanson, and multiple residential developments across Contra Costa County. The subpoenas also request eight years of emails, calendars, notes, and other records involving Kramer, Robb, and three additional employees in the assessor's office.
The subpoenas, issued June 8 — the same day FBI agents searched Kramer and Robb's homes and the county assessor's office — were signed by U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian and presented to a federal grand jury that met July 2 in Oakland.
A search warrant previously cited suspected wire fraud and "other offenses," but did not identify any individual as a target of the investigation, the Bay Area News Group reported.
Prosecutors requested records involving property assessments, reassessments, and appeals connected to at least 15 properties owned by or associated with several prominent Contra Costa County businesses dating back to 2018, the Bay Area News Group reported.
The subpoenas do not explain why those records were requested, and inclusion in a subpoena does not indicate that any person or company is accused of wrongdoing. The county assessor sets property values that serve as the basis for local property taxes.
Among the entities identified are DeNova Homes, David Sanson, Trent Sanson, and Lori Sanson. David and Trent Sanson were indicted by a federal grand jury last year on bribery and conspiracy charges alleging they attempted to bribe an Antioch city councilmember to speed approval of the stalled Aviano housing development. Prosecutors also sought records involving nine housing developments in Antioch, Oakley, Martinez, Pinole, and Pleasant Hill, according to the .
The Bay Area News Group also reported that federal prosecutors requested records tied to Discovery Builders founder Albert Seeno III, Seeno Homes leader Albert Seeno Jr., and two Seeno-related properties, including a Concord museum associated with Willow View Associates. The Martinez Refining Company was also named in the subpoenas. Earlier this year, the refinery agreed to pay a $10 million penalty over repeated workplace safety violations.
Federal investigators additionally requested records involving assessor's office employees Denise Lucido, Peter Yu, and Parampreet Singh Bhatia, as well as properties associated with Sean McCauley, Jack Dudum, and Sylvia Dudum Del Santo, according to the .
One subpoena seeks records dating back to Jan. 1, 2018, involving the Carmel Pines Apartments at 1770 Carmel Drive in Walnut Creek. According to the Bay Area News Group, that property was at the center of a lawsuit settled earlier this year for $135,000 after allegations that Kramer improperly reduced its assessed value and retaliated against an employee who challenged the decision.
Kramer questioned the federal tactics during an interview with the Bay Area News Group. He the FBI raids as "nothing more than a training exercise" and said he was "perplexed" by the companies, individuals, and properties listed in the subpoenas.
The Bay Area News Group that attempts to obtain comment from Robb, the Seeno family, the Sansons, the Martinez Refining Company, the assessor's office employees, and the other individuals named in the subpoenas were unsuccessful.
The investigation follows years of scrutiny surrounding Kramer. He has also faced scrutiny over his personal real estate investments in Contra Costa County, where he has overseen property assessments that determine taxable values for 32 years.
by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office and a 2018 civil grand jury effort to remove Kramer also ended without criminal convictions or removal from office. Kramer announced his retirement in December this year after serving eight terms.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Concord, CA Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.