Investigators Accused of Trying to Frame Costa Mesa Politicians for Police Union

Two private investigators are facing criminal charges related to attempts to dig up dirt on Costa Mesa Mayor Stephen Mensinger and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer, a prosecutor said today.

Christopher Joseph Lanzillo and Scott Alan Impola are each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime with the unlawful use of an electronic tracking device and one count each of false imprisonment by deceit and conspiracy to falsely report a crime.

Impola, 46, of Canyon Lake, was arrested Wednesday night in Riverside County and Lanzillo, 45, of Lake Arrowhead was arrested in San Bernardino County this morning, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Robert Mestman.

Impola was freed after posting $25,000 bail; it was unclear if Lanzillo had posted bail by late this afternoon.

The investigation began after an attempt to get Righeimer, who was then the city’s mayor, arrested on a drunken driving allegation on Aug. 22, 2012, Mestman said. On that day, Righeimer went to fellow City Councilman Gary Monahan’s restaurant, Skosh Monahan’s, and drank a couple of diet Cokes, according to the prosecutor.

When Righeimer left the restaurant about 5:45 p.m., Lanzillo called 911 to report that he saw a man stumbling out of the eatery and into a car that matched the description of Righeimer’s vehicle, Mestman alleged.

Lanzillo is also accused of reporting that the car was swerving and the driver was either drunk or disabled, the prosecutor said.

A Costa Mesa officer confronted Righeimer at his home, but quickly concluded the mayor pro tem was not drunk, Mestman said.

That same summer, Lanzillo and Impola are accused of placing a GPS tracking device on Mensinger’s car, Mestman said.

The defendants at the time worked for a now-defunct law firm based out of Upland -- Lackie, Dammeier, McGill and Ethir, Mestman said. The firm was hired by the Costa Mesa Police Association, the union that represents the city’s police force.

“They knew (the investigators) would be doing candidate research and conducting surveillance to dig up dirt, but nothing that constituted illegal activity,” Mestman said of the union.

Union officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Impola was allegedly seeking information to hurt Monahan politically when the DUI call was made against Righeimer, Mestman said. Impola and Lanzillo were exchanging messages and information through text and voice messages on their cell phones with attorney Dieter Dammeier at the time Righeimer was falsely accused of driving drunk, the prosecutor said.

The defendants are accused of putting a GPS tracking device on the car of attorney Robert Wexler between June 21 and July 12, 2012. Wexler worked for a competing firm to the one employing the defendants.

Righeimer told City News Service that at one point, a woman was hired to proposition Mensinger and Monahan.

Righeimer contends it was all part of a larger plan by the law firm to bully and blackmail elected officials into voting for higher wages and benefits for police officers throughout the state.

“What we said all along was something illegal was happening to get cities to agree to unsustainable pay and pension contracts, and nobody was really sure what it was,” Righeimer said.

“I have no doubt there are elected officials out there that because of extortion had to do what they had to do to protect their families,” Righeimer said.

In an August 2012 interview, Dammeier denied any involvement in the call that led to Righeimer being subjected to a field sobriety test.

“When our clients are treated unfairly or unlawfully, yes, we are aggressive, within the limits of the law, to vindicate our client’s position,” Dammeier told City News Service.

The defendants could face up to four years and four months behind bars if convicted.

• City News Service