Former California city councilmen sentenced to federal prison for bribery

August 26, 2026

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Two former city councilmen in Southern California each received sentences of 18 months in federal prison for committing corrupt acts while they were elected officials.

Ricardo Pacheco, 63, of Baldwin Park, and Jacob Galvan, 39, of Compton, took part in a corruption scheme related to cannabis projects, in which Galvan facilitated $70,000 in bribes to Pacheco. Galvan was working as a consultant for a company seeking to obtain city permits for marijuana cultivation in Baldwin Park.

Pacheco, who served on the Baldwin Park City Council from 1997 to 2020, pleaded guilty in June 2020 to one count of federal program bribery. Pacheco admitted to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in cash bribes from a Baldwin Park police officer working at the FBI’s direction in exchange for the then-councilman’s support of the police union’s contract with the city.

Galvan, who served on the Compton City Council from 2013 to 2022, pleaded guilty in Dec. 2025 to one count of federal program bribery and one count of evasion of tax assessment. Galvan admitted to paying bribes to Pacheco in exchange for Pacheco’s votes and support of commercial marijuana permits. Galvan also admitted to failing to report to the IRS more than $500,000 in income.

During the sentencing hearing on Monday, U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II fined Pacheco $10,000 and ordered him to pay $219,755 in restitution. Wright ordered Galvan to pay $323,557 in restitution. 

In San Luis Obispo County, now-deceased Supervisor Adam Hill accepted thousands of dollars in bribes from marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring. While under a federal investigation, Hill committed suicide.