Monday, September 19, 2011

L.A. building inspector convicted of bribery faces prison stint

Federal prosecutors say photo shows Raoul Joseph Germain taking a bribe

A former Los Angeles city building inspector is to be sentenced Monday afternoon after his conviction on a federal bribery charge.

Raoul Joseph Germain pleaded guilty in May to one count of accepting bribes. He was one of two inspectors arrested and convicted this year after a federal probe of the department.

According to the federal complaint, Germain and the other defendant, Hugo Gonzalez, took thousands of dollars in bribes to sign off on properties that they had not inspected, and in some cases never even saw.

Prosecutors recommended a sentence of 21 months in prison for Germain.

Gonzalez, who also pleaded guilty, is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 3.

In addition to Germain and Gonzalez, who were both fired, three other building department employees were fired and two placed on leave as a result of the probe.

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-- Abby Sewell

Photos: Federal prosecutors say photo shows Raoul Joseph Germain taking a bribe. Credit: FBI

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