San Francisco, CA – The widespread corruption scandal centered around former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru continues to unfold, with numerous city officials and contractors facing charges, convictions, and plea agreements. While the scandal has led to extensive legal proceedings, public records do not widely confirm multiple San Francisco department heads invoking the Fifth Amendment during recent depositions, despite the tweet from user "bluoz" inquiring about such instances.
Mohammed Nuru, who resigned in February 2020 and pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge in January 2022, was at the heart of the illicit activities. Federal prosecutors detailed how Nuru used his authority to obtain money and gifts in exchange for providing insider information and preferential treatment to city contractors. Early in the investigation, while Nuru was still on the city's payroll, the city attorney's office compelled him to answer questions, noting that he "can't take the Fifth" in that context.
The scandal has ensnared a range of individuals, including former Public Utilities Commission General Manager Harlan Kelly, who was found guilty of fraud, and former Department of Building Inspection director Tom Hui. Other prominent figures charged include Sandra Zuniga, former head of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, who pleaded guilty to money laundering and agreed to cooperate with investigators. Several contractors and business owners, such as Florence Kong and Alan Varela, have also pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges, often in exchange for city contracts.
The investigations by the FBI and the City Attorney’s Office have exposed a complex web of bribery, fraud, and money laundering. The scope of the scandal has prompted calls for significant ethics reforms within City Hall, including proposals for an independent inspector general position to prevent future corruption. The City Attorney's Office has also taken steps to ban implicated contractors from doing business with the city.
The ongoing legal actions underscore a concerted effort by federal and local authorities to address systemic corruption within San Francisco's municipal government, aiming to restore public trust and ensure accountability.