Albert Robles

Albert T. Robles (not to be confused with Albert Robles, another politician) is an American politician and former mayor, councilman, treasurer, and deputy city manager for the City of South Gate, California. He also served as an elected Director of the Central Basin Municipal Water District in Carson, CA. In 2005 he was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.cite news
author = Becerra, Hector
title=Robles sentenced to 10 years
publisher=Los Angeles Times
date =2006-11-29
retrieved=November 30, 2006
url = http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-robles29nov29,1,2110069.story?coll=la-news-politics-california]

Another politician from Carson, CA shares his name, Albert Robles, who also is a publicly elected Director to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, but in Lakewood, California since 1992. He was an unsuccessful candidate for District Attorney of Los Angeles County during the June 2008 primary.

Political career

*Robles graduated from the University of California Los Angeles cite news
author = Marosi, Richard
url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/280534801.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+25%2C+2003&author=Richard+Marosi&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=THE+NATION
title = The Freebies Pile Up as South Gate Goes to Polls ; Some residents say the city's largess before a recall vote resembles the graft they saw in Mexico
publication = Los Angeles Times
work = 25 Jan 2003 Issue
date = 25 Jan 2003
accessdate = 2006-12-04
language = English
quote = Have Third World politics come to South Gate? As three council members and the treasurer face a closely watched recall election Tuesday, many residents say the answer is yes.] and was a former aide to a Mexican-American legislator. cite news
title = South Gate: Mexico Comes to California; How an all-American town became a barrio
url = http://www.amconmag.com/05_19_03/feature.html
author = McGrath, Roger D.
format = html
work = 19 May 2003 Issue
Publisher = Amerian Conservative
date = 19 May 2003
accessdate = 2006-12-01
language = English]

*In 1991 Robles became the youngest mayor of South Gate at the age of 26. cite news
author = Rosenzweig, David
coauthor = Lee, Wendy
title = Ex-South Gate treasurer convicted in bribery case
url = http://www.cityethics.org/southgate
format = html
work = 29 July 2005 Issue
publisher = Los Angeles Times
date = 29 July 2005
accessdate = 2006-12-01
language = English]

*In 1992 he was elected to the South Gate City Council by a predominantly Mexican-American electorate.

*Between 1996 and 2001, Robles was elected to and served on the Central Basin Municipal Water District.

*In 1997 Robles was elected to the city treasurer position while continuing to serve on the Water District.

*In 2002 Robles was appointed by the City Council to the Deputy City Manager position.

*In 2003 Robles was recalled along with Mayor Xochitl Ruvalcaba, Vice Mayor Raul Moriel, and Councilwoman Maria Benavides in an election that was monitored by Los Angeles County by order of Governor Gray Davis. [ cite news
title = South Gate Voters Clean House; Ousted Robles Said He May Seek Office Again
url = http://www.nbc4.tv/news/1942556/detail.html
format = html
publisher = KNBC Los Angeles
date = 29 January 2003
accessdate = 2006-12-01
language = English] Robles retained his position as Deputy City Manager.

* In 2005 he was convicted on federal corruption charges then sentenced the following year to 10 years in prison.

Legal controversies

Robles was accused of making threatening statements to State Senator Martha Escutia and Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh. He was tried in 2002 but all charges were dismissed when the jury deadlocked on all counts. His attorney argued that his statements were merely the kind of language typical of South Gate politicians and not literal threats. [cite news
title = Brawl Began Over Political Boss Charged with Rape Threats
url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/politicalmuscle/2006/12/dymally_de_la_t.html
author = Salladay, Robert
format = html
publisher = LA Times
date = 2006-12-15
accessdate = 2008-04-05
language = English]

Robles was indicted on federal corruption charges in 2004. This stemmed from his award of contracts worth millions to friends and business associates as well as funneling money through the awarded contracts to himself and family members. He was found guilty of 30 counts of bribery, money laundering, and depriving the electorate. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and ordered to pay the city of South Gate $639,000 in restitution.

References