Federal and local agents served search warrants throughout Moreno Valley this morning, raiding the homes of all five City Council members, a businessman with close political connections and the corporate offices of the development company Highland Fairview.
The raids are part of an “an ongoing political corruption investigation,” Riverside County District Attorney Chief Investigator Michael Moriarty said.
Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles, said all federal warrants are under seal, and she could not comment on the nature of the investigation.
Neither the FBI nor local authorities have made any arrests, officials said. The FBI said no arrests were planned, but are always possible with an investigation.
Ms. Eimiller said the raids were a joint effort by agents from the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the Riverside County district attorney's office.
Former Moreno Valley City Council member Bill Batey said today that he was in Hesperia when he was told about search warrants being served at Council members' homes and businesses in Moreno Valley. He said he had not been notified that his house was being searched.
Late last year, Mr. Batey, who vacated his Council seat for an unsuccessful state Assembly run, said he would go to Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach's office to discuss his claims about City Hall corruption.
Mr. Batey made the comment in December as the City Council decided to put City Attorney Robert Hansen on administrative leave.
Mr. Hansen is to remain on administrative leave until his July retirement.
Mr. Batey said he could not discuss whether he had met with Mr. Zellerbach
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