LOS ANGELES—The office of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey has ceased to pursue the investigation of Councilwoman Nury Martinez’s 2015 campaign in a fundraising fraud case. The determination to discontinue the investigation was a lack of insufficient evidence.
Head Deputy Alan Yochelson of the District Attorneys Public Integrity Division indicated on Friday, September 20, in a memorandum that “prosecutors had received an allegation that Martinez’s campaign had engaged in fraud when it secured more than $65,000 in city taxpayers matching funds for her reelection bid.” The memo also said, “To qualify for that money, the campaign relied on “numerous small donations” many of them just 5 dollars from residents of her district.”
Yochelson wrote, “While our investigation proved that some of the 5 dollar donations were not made by the purported donor the evidence was insufficient to prove who was ultimately, responsible.”
“The audits reviewed the committees’ contribution and expenditure activity during the 2015 election cycle. “Audit Findings” are described as a “failure to comply with state or City law.” Here, the auditors concluded that “[Martinez’s committees] did not have any material findings,” states a closing memorandum Canyon News received from the LADA’s Office about the case.
The memo did not indicate the number of people that were listed as donors on fundraising supplies for Martinez. An interview request was declined by Alan Yochelson. Canyon News received an email from Greg Risling of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office indicating that the case is closed.
