FBI vs. Bell Gardens's Police Chief
The feds want answers on towing contracts
By Alex Comisar
The FBI made a visit to Bell Gardens City Hall last week. They served Police Chief Keith Kilmer and two other officials with subpoenas for records in connection with charges against Councilman Mario Beltran and others accused of embezzlement in their dealings with the United Motor Club, a tow company whose contract with the city was renewed in 2005, city sources said.
Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI have declined to comment on the nature of the subpoenas delivered to Kilmer, Finance Director Misty Cheng and City Manager John Ornelas.
A yearlong investigation recently ended with the indictment of Beltran, a Bell Gardens city councilman. Beltran is charged with seven counts of felony theft, one felony count of perjury and five misdemeanor campaign disclosure violations.
Neither Cheng nor Kilmer returned several calls left at their offices. Ornelas said he did not receive a subpoena, and said “I’m not going to deal with you or CityBeat.” At issue is the tow company with which Bell Gardens contracted in 2005 – the United Motor Club – at the behest of Councilman Beltran, Mayor Jennifer Rodriguez and Chief Kilmer himself.
Beltran and Rodriguez were adamant about giving United the lucrative exclusive towing contract in 2005, even suggesting that the length of the contract be extended from three years to five, but Kilmer had said he thought employing two towing companies would better assure quality service to the community.
United’s self-proclaimed manager and spokesman, Sharam Shayesteh, is a three-time felon. Shayesteh has also been served with a restraining order for apparent threats made against Bell Gardens City Councilman Daniel Crespo, a longtime political rival of Beltran’s. Shayesteh had also been charged with money laundering, as he was accused of depositing $64,000 into the account of a drug kingpin. Those charges, however, were dropped.
Beltran and Rodriguez said they had no knowledge of Shayesteh’s criminal record when they awarded United the contract, although Shayesteh by that time had already built a lengthy record, which included three felonies in three states.
Since the beginning of the contract, Shayesteh has given the city $50,000 in franchise fees and made a $1,000 donation to a police boxing club.
Upon hearing of Shayesteh’s criminal past, the city of Bell Gardens promptly suspended United’s exclusive contract with the city, but Chief Kilmer reinstated it thereafter, saying he did not see any reason why the tow company’s shady past was relevant. Kilmer insisted that he was interested only in quality service. Kilmer also told reporters he was assured that Shayesteh was no longer associated with United as of the suspension.
Officially, United Motor Club is owned by brothers Seyed and Bahran Madaen, who are linked financially with both Shayesteh and Beltran. One of the brothers, Bahran, is also a registered agent for Beltran’s consulting firm. Beltran confirmed that Bahran Madaen was an agent for his firm, but denied that he knew of his position as vice president of the towing company.
Published: 05/21/2008
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