Exclusive: As FBI degree fraud investigation of Pittsburg cops ramped up, officers paid back tens of thousands to city

PITTSBURG — Within the newest twist in a wide-ranging East Bay police corruption probe, two Pittsburg officers suspected of boosting their pay with improperly obtained faculty levels returned tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in training bonuses, in accordance with paperwork obtained this week.

The unsolicited private checks signed by former Officers Patrick Berhan and Ernesto Mejia — each of whom are reportedly underneath legal investigation — embody near-identical notes wherein each officers deny wrongdoing however provide the cash again with a purpose to keep away from “the notion” that they did something improper.

The officers returned the cash across the time of their resignations. Berhan wrote a $25,000 test dated Aug. 10, weeks after his departure in late June. Mejia despatched $9,459 again on June 14 and 4 days later resigned, in accordance with information and Pittsburg Metropolis Supervisor Garrett Evans. The town of Pittsburg accepted each checks and processed them as donations, in accordance with metropolis’s director of human sources.

The school-degree rip-off, as beforehand reported, kicked off what would grow to be a extra sweeping investigation into at the least a dozen Antioch and Pittsburg law enforcement officials now suspected of a large number of crimes.

A number of legislation enforcement sources have stated Berhan and Mejia are amongst Antioch and Pittsburg officers who’re underneath a joint investigation by the FBI and Contra Costa District Lawyer’s workplace, which is anticipated to lead to legal expenses towards a number of officers. The investigation contains allegations starting from unlawful police violence to cocaine and steroid distribution, however began after a whistleblower alerted authorities to the alleged diploma rip-off final 12 months.

Sources have stated Berhan, Mejia and an unknown variety of different officers are suspecting of being concerned within the alleged scheme and had a girl take and go exams for them.

“It has come to my consideration that the Metropolis of Pittsburg contends that I didn’t correctly earn the tutorial incentive pay awarded to me. Though I labored exhausting to realize my faculty diploma, I don’t want my popularity to be tainted by the notion that I acquired cash I didn’t earn,” Berhan and Mejia wrote in separate letters.

Mejia’s lawyer, Alison Berry Wilkinson, stated the previous officer “selected to reimburse town as a result of he didn’t need his popularity to be tainted by the notion that he acquired cash he didn’t earn. He did this of his personal accord and never on the request of town.” It isn’t identified who’s representing Berhan.

This information group obtained the paperwork by means of a public information request despatched to Jennifer Brizel, director of human sources for town of Pittsburg. Brizel stated town “has not acquired different ‘reimbursements’ from law enforcement officials” in 2022. She added that town “processed the checks as donations.”

Berhan and Mejia every acquired a bachelor’s of arts diploma in legal justice from California Coast College in August 2019 and March 2021, respectively, in accordance with metropolis information. The Santa Ana-based college, a non-public for-profit on-line faculty, advertises within the Police Officers Analysis Affiliation of California’s journal, amongst different legislation  enforcement publications.

Beneath the present Pittsburg police union contract, officers are eligible for five p.c raises yearly for incomes bachelor’s levels. Antioch officers get the identical pay bump underneath their contract.

The town of Antioch’s Human Assets division has not responded to a request despatched final month searching for details about whether or not any officers underneath investigation requested or acquired related training pay bumps.

Berhan and Mejia are additionally linked by their involvement within the controversial 2017 restraint loss of life of 32-year-old Humberto Martinez, which led to a federal lawsuit that resulted in a $7.3 million settlement. Martinez died after Mejia put him in a carotid maintain, whereas one other officer sat on him, throughout a wrestle contained in the kitchen of a Pittsburg residence. Martinez had run inside after officers tried to drag him over for a minor site visitors violation.

A coroner’s report confirmed he suffered 16 damaged ribs and several other bruises. A pathologist famous Martinez had methamphetamine in his system however dominated he died from having the bloodstream to his mind minimize off. Berhan used a stun gun on Martinez throughout the wrestle, in accordance with testimony at a coroner’s inquest listening to.

Public information present Berhan was roommates with Antioch K9 Officer Morteza Amiri, a central goal of the FBI probe, in accordance with a number of legislation enforcement sources. The investigation into Amiri has included a evaluate of canine chew incidents involving him and his K9 associate, Purcy.

A federal grand jury, convened final 12 months, is anticipated to quickly difficulty a call on whether or not to cost the concerned officers. Up to now, prosecutors in Contra Costa have filed felony expenses towards one former Pittsburg officer, Armando Montalvo, for allegedly possessing and promoting two unlawful assault rifles.

Federal and state prosecutors have additionally dropped dozens of legal expenses that hinged on the testimony of impugned officers.