Baldwin Park's 2017 Marijuana Policy Precedes Official Corruption Cases
Baldwin Park's 2017 cannabis policy became the backdrop for official corruption involving marijuana permit bribes.
Event / Politics
California Local Officials Corruption Convictions
Former Baldwin Park City Councilman Ricardo Pacheco and former Compton City Councilman Isaac Jacob Galvan were sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for corruption involving bribes related to police union contracts and cannabis permits. Pacheco accepted over $107,900 in bribes and cooperated with federal investigators after an FBI sting operation. A third defendant, Yichang Bai, was sentenced to 20 months for conspiracy to commit bribery.
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2026-08-30 to 2026-11-07 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 30 Aug, 09:19 UTC
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What happened
Galvan ordered to pay $323,557 in restitution
Isaac Jacob Galvan was ordered to pay $323,557 in restitution as part of his sentencing for federal corruption charges.
Pacheco ordered to forfeit $219,755 and fined $10,000
In addition to his prison sentence, Ricardo Pacheco was fined $10,000 and ordered to forfeit $219,755. Federal agents seized $83,145 in cash proceeds from him, including $62,900 that he admitted to burying in two separate locations in his backyard.
Pacheco voted for police union contract in March 2018
Ricardo Pacheco voted in favor of the Baldwin Park Police Association's contract with the city in March 2018, after having solicited and accepted bribes from an officer in support of the agreement.
Ricardo Pacheco sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for corruption
Ricardo Pacheco, 63, a former Baldwin Park City Council member who served for over 20 years, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Friday for accepting bribes connected to a police union contract and commercial cannabis permits. He resigned from the council in 2020 as part of his plea agreement.
FBI investigation implicated multiple local government officials
The wider FBI corruption investigation implicated figures including a former Baldwin Park city attorney, a Commerce city manager, a San Bernardino County planning commissioner, and a marijuana distributor, in addition to the primary defendants Pacheco and Galvan.
Baldwin Park began allowing marijuana cultivation and distribution in 2017
Baldwin Park began allowing marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution in 2017. This policy change subsequently became the subject of a pay-to-play corruption scheme involving city officials soliciting bribes from businesses seeking development agreements and related permits.
Yichang Bai pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery
Yichang Bai, owner of W&F International Corp., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. He was sentenced in July to 20 months in federal prison and a $3,000 fine.
Pacheco accepted $70,000 in bribes for marijuana permit support
Isaac Jacob Galvan, a Compton City Councilman, facilitated $70,000 in bribes from Yichang Bai, owner of W&F International Corp., to Ricardo Pacheco in exchange for Pacheco's votes and political backing for the company's marijuana permit in Baldwin Park. Pacheco voted in favor of the permit in June and July 2018 and later supported the company's effort to relocate operations.
Pacheco became FBI informant after coffee shop sting
After being caught in the video-recorded sting at the Baldwin Park coffee shop, Ricardo Pacheco agreed to become an FBI informant. Pacheco wore a concealed wire as investigators built cases that led to six indictments involving more than 20 people tied to local government and the marijuana industry.
Isaac Jacob Galvan sentenced to 18 months in federal prison
Isaac Jacob Galvan, 39, a former Compton City Councilman, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in corrupt acts as an elected official, including accepting and making bribe payments in exchange for political backing and city permits.
Pacheco received $20,000 cash bribe at coffee shop in recorded sting
In October 2018, an undercover FBI officer handed Ricardo Pacheco a $20,000 cash bribe inside an envelope at a Baldwin Park coffee shop. This transaction was video-recorded as part of the FBI's corruption investigation.
Pacheco routed bribes through church and political organizations
Ricardo Pacheco directed $17,900 in checks to his church and political action committees that were set up in other people's names but controlled by him, obscuring the sources of illicit funds.
Galvan failed to report $560,525 in income to IRS
Isaac Jacob Galvan admitted to failing to report approximately $560,525 in income to the Internal Revenue Service from 2017 through 2020. Prosecutors determined the scheme caused a tax loss of $115,816.
Pacheco accepted $37,900 in bribes for police union contract support
Between January and October 2018, Ricardo Pacheco solicited and accepted $37,900 from a Baldwin Park police officer in exchange for backing the Baldwin Park Police Association's contract with the city, valued at no less than $4.4 million over three years. The officer was working undercover at the FBI's direction.
Bribes obscured through checks with blank payee lines
Payments from Yichang Bai to Ricardo Pacheco were obscured through checks from third parties, including checks with blank payee lines. When Pacheco sought additional money for his legal defense fund, Galvan told Bai the councilman wanted $25,000, and Bai agreed to provide $20,000 through seven checks from bank accounts that were not his or W&F's.
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2 alternative perspectives
Diamond Bar Official Pleads Guilty in Expanding Corruption Probe
Diamond Bar official pleads guilty to bribery conspiracy in expanding statewide corruption investigation.
Compton Councilman Galvan Sentenced to 18 Months for Tax Evasion
Compton councilman sentenced to 18 months for concealing $560,525 in unreported income.
Baldwin Park Councilman Sentenced to 18 Months for Federal Corruption
Baldwin Park councilman sentenced to 18 months prison for accepting $70,000 in bribes for marijuana permit support.