FBI Sting Leads to Corruption Charges Against California Developers
Antioch councilmember worked with federal authorities to expose alleged bribery
A father and son who formerly led DeNova Homes have been indicted on federal corruption charges after allegedly attempting to bribe an Antioch, California city councilmember. David Sanson, 60, and Trent Sanson, 33, were charged with conspiracy and bribery after allegedly offering $15,000 to influence decisions related to their 533-home development project. According to federal prosecutors, the unnamed councilmember reported the bribe attempt to the FBI and subsequently recorded meetings with the developers at the direction of federal authorities.
The indictment alleges that the Sansons sought the councilmember's assistance in getting the Antioch Engineering and Development Services Division to release bonds associated with their Aviano project. The meetings reportedly occurred in May and June 2024, with David Sanson allegedly providing $5,000 concealed in a coffee thermos during one encounter. The case has drawn speculation about which councilmember cooperated with the FBI, though former councilmember Mike Barbanica declined to confirm or deny his involvement when questioned by reporters.
KEY POINTS
- •Developers charged in FBI bribery sting
- •Councilmember secretly recorded meetings
- •Part of wider Bay Area corruption cases
This case represents the latest in a series of corruption prosecutions in the Bay Area. In January, the owners of California Waste Solutions were charged with attempting to bribe Oakland's mayor, while Antioch has also been dealing with an ongoing police scandal involving civil rights violations and other offenses. The FBI previously raided the office of Mary Jo Rossi, a prominent political consultant who worked for a committee sponsored by DeNova Homes, though she has not been charged with any crime.
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