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Tempe City Councilman Ben Arredondo busted by the FBI

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State legislator Arredondo indicted in FBI sting

by JJ Hensley - May. 16, 2012 04:55 PM

The Republic | azcentral.com

Ben Arredondo, a state representative and former Tempe City Councilman, was charged with bribery, mail fraud, extortion and lying in a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday for allegedly demanding and accepting gifts and other items from a company that was actually fronted by undercover FBI agents.

The 10-page court document includes allegations that Arredondo asked the fictional company's representatives to purchase a $525 table for a charity event with the understanding that the former Tempe councilman would invite guests of his choice to sit in the seats.

The indictment includes allegations that Arredondo took official action for the benefit of the fictitious company, including that he shared information with an FBI agent about the City of Tempe's bidding process for a project that Arredondo believed the fictitious company was interested in bidding on.

The indictment also alleges that Arredondo accepted $300 in tickets to an Arizona Cardinals football game, more than $1,200 in tickets to Major League Baseball's American League Championship game in 2009 and that he accepted 18 tickets worth about $2,400 for Arizona Diamondbacks game sin 2010.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman declined to comment citing the "ongoing" nature of the investigation. But one Democratic House leader called on Arredondo, a Democrat, to resign.

"In the interests of our constituents, Rep. Arredondo should immediately resign to ensure that those in our community have unabridged representation," said Rep. David Schapira. "The Department of Justice allegations against him are deeply troubling and, whether he is guilty or innocent, will pose too great a distraction for him to fulfill the duties of his office.

"Arizonans expect and deserve more from their elected officials. Sadly, this is another reminder of why we need more ethics reforms at all levels of government and leaders who are willing to uphold them."

Arredondo could not be reached for comment but his attorney, Lee Stein, said Wednesday that they intend to "do our talking in court."

Stein also said the indictment does nothing to take away from Arredondo's lifetime of community service as a teacher, coach, councilman and legislator. [Translation a life time government parasite and crook!]

The indictment alleges that In April 2010, Arredondo set up a meeting between representatives of the fictitious company and a recently elected Tempe councilmember. Before the councilmember arrived, investigators allege, Arredondo talked about his upcoming campaign for the Arizona House and reiterated his support for the fictitious company's project.

"Arredondo assured the representatives of (the fictitious company), 'You guys will ask, you guys will have'," according to the indictment. "I don't know how else to say it. We'll be just fine because not only we're covered in the city, we're covered at the state."

The indictment also alleges that Arredondo accepted $300 in tickets to an Arizona Cardinals football game, more than $1,200 in tickets to Major League Baseball's American League Championship game in 2009 and that he accepted 18 tickets worth about $2,400 for Arizona Diamondbacks game since 2010.

"To conceal that he had agreed to accept the tickets while a member of the City Council, Arredondo instructed a representative of (the fictitious company) to mail them to his home in Tempe," the indictment reads. "Arredondo gave that instruction 'to make it a lot easier' for him because, as he explained, 'I'm through with this council after that, and then I can honestly say I've never taken a look at these guys until after this.' "

Arredondo channels his inner Don Corleone

Arredondo channels his inner Don Corleone

Soon-to-be-sentenced ex-Rep. Richard Miranda may have found himself a roomie.

Rep. Ben Arrendondo was indicted Wednesday, charged with bribery, mail fraud and two other federal offenses after getting nailed in an FBI sting.

It seems this guy’s weakness for freebie sports tickets may have led him to help undercover agents, posing as developers, get the inside track on city-owned land for a project in Tempe.

According to the Department of Justice, Arredondo used his position as a city councilman and later as a state legislator to broker meetings, divulge confidential information and otherwise sell himself – and his city – out for a lousy $6,000 worth of tickets to various sports games. Then he lied about it, the indictment says.

Arredondo is the third sitting legislator charged with crimes this year, following the path of shame blazed by now-ex Sen. Scott Bundgaard, R-freeway fighter, and now-ex Rep. Richard Miranda, D-charity thief.

Arredondo, a Republican turned Democrat, was one of the top three offenders in the Fiesta Bowl Fiasco, ordering up football tickets like the rest of us order pizza – only the rest of us pay for our pizza.

In all, he took $6,240 worth of tickets from the Fiesta Bowl while on the Tempe City Council, including $4,000 Super Bowl tickets. He even called bowl officials and brazenly asked to be taken on a junket in 2009. As a result, he and the wife were treated to a fun-filled weekend in Minnesota.

Now, with allegations that he took another $6,000 worth of tickets from undercover FBI agents, I am left to wonder:

When did this guy have time to do anything other than attend sporting events?

Apparently, he did because his attorney, Lee Stein, on Wednesday said Arrendondo has “dedicated his life” to public service and “done many, many good things over his years of service and these allegations do not change any of that.”

Actually, they do. If they’re true, they taint every single thing that Arredondo has ever done while in positions of public trust and they may even throw a nasty stink onto the people he was tight with over at Tempe city hall.

According to the indictment, Arredondo while campaigning for the Legislature was also channeling his inner Don Corleone. In 2010, while waiting to introduce the “developers” to his replacement on the Tempe City Council, he discussed his legislative campaign and assured them of his continued support. “You guys will ask, you guys will have,” the indictment quotes him as saying. “I don’t know how else to say it. We’ll be just fine because not only we’re covered at the city, we’re covered now at the state.”

We’re covered all right, in disgust at the state of elected leadership in Arizona.

Ben Arredondo, Tempe lawmaker, busted in FBI sting operation

Arredondo, Tempe lawmaker, indicted after FBI sting operation

Posted: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:14 pm

By Garin Groff, Tribune

State lawmaker and former Tempe City Councilman Ben Arredondo was charged with bribery, extortion, mail fraud and making false statements following a sting where FBI agents posed as developers.

The indictment claims Arredondo demanded the faux-developers buy him a table at two charity events, tickets to college and pro football games and later divulged information to help the undercover agents with a bid for city-owned land.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Arredondo took more than $6,000 worth of tickets and special events in 2009 and 2010 in return for using his position at the city and in the state House of Representatives to help the developer with a project.

The indictment alleges that Arredondo, 63, lied to FBI agents about his conduct when he was interviewed in January.

Arredondo’s attorney said the facts are very different from the government’s allegations, but that he’ll wait until a trial to speak further.

“What we will say, though, is that Ben Arredondo has dedicated his life to the city of Tempe, Maricopa County and the state of Arizona, having served as a teacher, a football and wrestling coach, a city councilman, a county supervisor and a member of the Arizona House of Representatives,” attorney Lee Stein said in a statement. “He has done many, many good things over his years of service and these allegations do not change any of that.”

The 10-page indictment claims the FBI formed a fictitious company to develop real estate, and that Arredondo first solicited an agent in February 2009 for a $525 table at a charity event. He asked for a $600 table at another event the next month, according to the indictment, with the understanding he would pick his guests at both events.

Arredondo accepted two tickets worth $305.95 to an Arizona Cardinals-San Francisco 49rs game in September 2009, records state.

And the indictment alleges Arredondo took 18 tickets worth about $2,400 for various Arizona Diamondbacks games in 2010. The indictment said that to conceal that he accepted tickets while on the City Council, Arredondo told the agents to mail the tickets to his house after his term ended July 1.

According to the indictment: “Arredondo gave that instruction ‘to make it a lot easier’ for him because, as he explained, ‘I’m through with this council after that, and then I can honestly say I’ve never taken a look at these guys until after this.’” The indictment claims he got the tickets July 2.

Arredondo got two college basketball tickets worth $1,200 while in the Legislature in November 2010, the indictment states.

Arredondo told one agent in 2009 that he would speak with Tempe’s development manager to set up a phone call between that official and the developer, documents state. The claim alleges Arredondo later gave the developer information about Tempe’s bidding process and how much the city would accept for its land.

The indictment states Arredondo told the agent he would work to influence the planning official’s decision on the project. It continues that Arredondo set up a meeting with the developer and a person who had just been elected to the City Council. According to the indictment, Arredondo made reference to his election to the House and told the developer: “You guys will ask, you guys will have. I don’t know how else to say it. We’ll be just fine because not only we’re covered at the city, we’re covered now at the state.”

Arredondo advocated the project to other elected officials, but the indictment said he never told them or staff members about gifts he’d received.

Arredondo was charged with federal bribery, attempted extortion, making false statements and two counts of mail fraud. He will be arraigned May 30. If convicted, Arredondo faces a $250,000 fine per charge and prison sentences ranging from 5 years to 20 years per charge.

Arredondo was a Republican but registered as a Democrat when he ran for the Legislature in a Democratic-leaning district.

The Arredondo family has deep roots in Tempe, settling there from Mexico in the early 1900s. Arredondo and his five brothers were all educators.

His attorney provided contacts with people who would vouch for Arredondo’s character, including Chandler grocery magnate Eddie Basha.

The businessman and education advocate said he’s known Arredondo for decades and didn’t think twice when Stein asked him to speak about the longtime politician and educator.

“He’s devoted his whole life to children,” Basha said. “He’s just one fine human being. What is so unfortunate is when a guy gives his entire life back to society and somebody says we think you’ve done something wrong, now the person is probably going to have to forfeit the equity he’s built up in life to defend his integrity.”

Basha said he felt for Arredondo because he was investigated following his unsuccessful bid for governor in 1994. The grocer said Stein called him Tuesday with a hint of what was to come, but that he didn’t know the specifics of the allegations.

“I think Ben Arredondo is an outstanding citizen,” Basha said. “He is a great father, a good husband. I think he’s been a great educator. There are countless people whose lives he’s touched.”

Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com

Acusan de corrupción al legislador Ben Arredondo de Tempe

Acusan de corrupción al legislador Arredondo

Phoenix, Arizona

por Eduardo Bernal

May. 18, 2012 11:29 AM

La Voz

Según una investigación encubierta por agentes del FBI y el Departamento de Justicia, el legislador demócrata de Arizona Ben Arredondo (Distrito 17), es acusado de corrupción, sobornos, extorsión y falsas declaraciones.

De acuerdo con la investigación revelada el pasado miércoles 16 de mayo, Arredondo habría recibido sobornos que sumarían más de 6 mil dólares en boletos para eventos deportivos entre 2009 y 2010, mientras fungía como concejal en el municipio de la ciudad de Tempe.

El Departamento de Justicia menciona que Arredondo solicitó los boletos a agentes encubiertos del FBI quienes se hicieron pasar por representantes de una compañía que buscaba permutar propiedades de la ciudad de Tempe.

Ante estas acusaciones, Chad Campbell, líder de la minoría en la Cámara de Representantes, mencionó que si son ciertas, el legislador en cuestión deberá responsabilizarse por sus actos.

"Cuando las leyes son violadas, los inculpados deberán responsabilizarse y en este caso el representante Arredondo tendrá que responder pos sus actos ante la ley", declaró Campbell ,representante del distrito 14.

Por su parte, David Schapira, líder demócrata del Senado declaró que Arredondo debería renunciar a su puesto ya que estas acusaciones impedirán que desempeñe sus labores representando a los electores del Distrito 17.

"Las acusaciones del Departamento de Justicia son alarmantes y esto presentará una distracción para que realice sus funciones como representante. Los residentes merecen más de sus servidores públicos; lamentablemente este tipo de situaciones nos recuerdan porqué se necesitan reformas éticas en todos los niveles del gobierno y los líderes políticos que lo conforman", declaró Schapira.

La oficina del representante en cuestión no respondió a las acusaciones y se espera que más detalles sobre la investigación y las acusaciones se revelen en los siguientes días.

Make it illegal for government rulers to accept gifts????

After all that's what government is all about, stealing money from us serfs and giving it to the elected officials that rule over us, and giving it to the special interest groups that helped them get elected.

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Despite public cry for gift ban, lawmakers slow to act

Arredondo indictment expected to renew ethics push

by Mary Jo Pitzl and Dianna Nañez - May. 20, 2012 10:53 PM

The Republic | azcentral.com

State Rep. Ben Arredondo's indictment on federal bribery and extortion charges last week renewed calls for tighter rules on gifts to elected officials.

It's a familiar refrain: Lawmakers discussed it in the wake of the Fiesta Bowl scandal last year. New House Speaker Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, even asked the public to tell him what elected officials should and shouldn't take.

The response: Take nothing.

But all that talk quieted to a whisper and then a silence. The Legislature ended its session earlier this month without any changes to disclosure laws, despite more than a half-dozen proposals from Republicans as well as Democrats.

Many observers, both inside and outside government, lament the lack of action. Proposals ranged from an outright gift ban to more frequent reporting requirements to clarifying how to treat conference-related expenses.

"It's truly, truly disappointing to not do something in the wake of those scandals," said Serena Unrein, public-interest advocate with Arizona Public Interest Research Group, which promotes transparency in government.

"There need to be stronger rules in place to keep these things from happening," Unrein said.

No one is suggesting that a new law would prevent abuses like the ones Arredondo is accused of committing during his time as a Tempe city councilman: requesting tickets to sporting events in exchange for insider information from City Hall about a development deal. Such actions are already illegal.

But stronger rules could clear up the ambiguity that triggered much of last year's Fiesta Bowl scandal, say many, ranging from Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery to lawmakers past and present.

Some lawmakers read the rules to mean that it was up to the Fiesta Bowl to disclose the tickets and travel to college-football games that they accepted; others said they attended as part of their state duties and therefore felt they didn't need to report the trips as gifts.

Montgomery said the laws were too vague for him to prosecute, even for such lavish Fiesta Bowl favors as those bestowed on then-Councilman Arredondo and former state Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa.

Clear rules, clear compliance

Rules and laws can have a preventive effect, enforcing a culture that protects both the broader public interest and the lawmaker, Unrein said. It also can ward off a mind-set that it's OK to solicit and accept gifts from individuals and groups seeking influence.

Caitlin Ginley at the Washington, D.C.,-based Center for Public Integrity said tighter and clearer rules help keep government officials from bending to the temptations that often crop up.

"Being more specific is going to give the lawmaker a better idea of what is and isn't OK," she said.

The center this spring released its State Integrity Investigation, which graded all 50 states on transparency, accountability and anti-corruption measures. Arizona earned a D+, ranking 27th. Arizona's legislative accountability rated a D+ and lobbying disclosure an F.

The report noted the likelihood for corruption is greater when fewer safeguards are in place.

Others argue the rules are fine as they are. Elected officials have to use some common sense when it comes to questions of whether it's OK to take or solicit favors.

State Rep. Bob Robson, R-Chandler, chaired the House Ethics Committee for four years. He said some ambiguity in the law can be a good thing.

"It makes you ask the question: Does this pass the headline test? Does it pass the smell test?" If it doesn't, Robson said, then it's clearly something to avoid.

But Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman said the law should have no wiggle room. An outright ban on gifts is the best insurance against a culture that condones a quid-pro-quo system of trading favors for government influence, he said.

"Once a person engages in even the smallest benefit of gifts and lunches, they've already stepped off the pinnacle of moral ground and are beginning to slide down the slippery slope," said Hallman, who served with Arredondo on the Tempe City Council.

"Once you take that first step, that second step is easier to take, then, you end up with the Fiesta Bowl and federal indictments of elected officials."

Although his term ends next month, Hallman said he will encourage the Tempe council to consider a strict gift ban and travel restrictions.

He didn't push through a ban during his eight-year tenure. In February, he and mayoral candidate Michael Monti endorsed a plan that would ban gifts of $50 or more and require immediate disclosure of taxpayer-funded travel. The plan never went anywhere.

Dead end at the Legislature

Numerous disclosure bills also failed at the Capitol. The Republican leaders of the House and Senate didn't push the matter, with the exception of House Majority Leader Steve Court, whose efforts hit dead ends.

Tobin said after Senate Democrats tried unsuccessfully to tack various reform amendments onto an elections bill, it was clear no disclosure bills would pass.

"They were making a mockery of the process over there," Tobin said. Republicans viewed the Democratic amendments as an attempt to embarrass the GOP. A few Republicans sided with the Democrats, but not enough to approve the amendments.

The Democratic proposals ranged from bans on event tickets, such as football games, to more frequent reporting of gifts and perks. Currently, lawmakers must file disclosure statements at the beginning of each year.

Tobin said he saw no sense in the House advancing its own reform measures, only to die in the Senate.

Senate President Steve Pierce, R-Prescott, held all the disclosure bills, saying action would happen after the chambers passed a budget.

However, the Legislature adjourned two days after the budget vote with no action on disclosure laws.

"I think the best time to do one of those bills is not in an election year," Pierce said.

Montgomery disagreed. In March, he told The Republic an election year is the best time to act, since lawmakers are more attuned to how voters will view them.

Court, who patterned his original bill after many of the recommendations Montgomery made last fall, said even a compromise he hammered out with minority leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, couldn't get momentum. Campbell had proposed an outright gift ban. Some Republicans felt no changes were needed.

Try, try again

Lawmakers say they'll try again next year.

Court said he's hopeful for success in 2013, saying it might be a "little easier." The Legislature next year will have a number of new members, and it most likely won't have a Republican supermajority, meaning Democratic votes could count for something.

In the Senate, Jerry Lewis, R-Mesa, said he plans to work on reform proposals over the summer. Lewis defeated Pearce in a recall election that, in part, was influenced by Pearce's acceptance of lavish trips from the Fiesta Bowl.

Campbell said only a power shift will create change.

"If the Democrats take over, it can happen," he said. "That's the only partisan thing I'm going to say."

In Tempe, Hallman says nothing will happen unless the public demands a change in the culture of politics. Until then, officials will be tempted to accept and offer favors, he said. "I have seen it happen too many times," he said. "The Fiesta Bowl scandal caught up people who 20 years ago would never have thought they would be doing these things they were caught doing."

But the question remains of how loud the public must speak before elected officials act.

Last summer, Tobin rejected the "take nothing" message the public sent after he invited their comments on how the Legislature should revise disclosure rules.

"They don't want lawmakers to take a lunch," Tobin said. "That's silly."

Even if Ben Arredondo is a crook he deserves a fair trial

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Feds want Arredondo documents sealed

Some material contains information about ongoing investigations

by JJ Hensley - May. 24, 2012 01:53 PM

The Republic | azcentral.com

Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to seal much of the information they turn over to attorneys for Arizona Rep. Ben Arredondo, D-Tempe, because some of the material contains information about other ongoing federal investigations.

Arredondo was indicted last week on five counts including bribery, mail fraud and extortion following an FBI sting. The indictment alleges that the former Tempe city councilman accepted tickets to sporting events in return for helping a business with development projects in Tempe.

The business owners were actually undercover FBI agents, according to the government.

Arredondo, through his attorney, has denied wrongdoing and promised to tell his side of the story in court.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Public Integrity Section, based in Washington, D.C., declined comment last week on whether there were other investigations related to the Arredondo probe.

However, Wednesday's filing in U.S. District Court indicates there are other investigations, some of which are ongoing.

"The government plans to produce or otherwise make available to the defense a large amount of material, much of which contains confidential and sensitive information related to other investigations (both closed and ongoing). If this information were to be publicly disclosed, such disclosure might impede those investigations," Jack Smith, chief of the Public Integrity Section, wrote in the filing.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Frederick Martone, who has yet to rule on the motion.

The federal indictment is unrelated to the Fiesta Bowl scandal, in which Arredondo accepted expensive tickets to sporting events from bowl executives after helping the bowl secure a $6.45 million subsidy from Tempe in 2005. Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery's investigation last year of Arredondo and 30 other elected officials who took gifts from the bowl concluded that charges were not warranted.

The FBI sting began before the Fiesta Bowl probe, operating from February 2009 to November 2010. It is not clear what prompted the FBI investigation. The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment.

Arredondo has not resigned from the Legislature and there has been no legislative effort to file an ethics complaint and try to have him removed. House Minority Leader Chad Campbell said he was still waiting for more information on the case, but thought lawmakers may not have grounds for an ethics complaint since allegations against Arredondo primarily focused on actions while he was a Tempe city council member and not a state lawmaker.

Prosecutors want secrecy in Arredondo extortion case

Prosecutors want secrecy in Arredondo extortion case to protect other investigations

Posted: Thursday, May 24, 2012 2:24 pm

By Garin Groff, Tribune

The U.S. Department of Justice will keep evidence against indicted Tempe lawmaker Ben Arredondo secret to protect other ongoing investigations underway by its Public Integrity Section.

Prosecutors filed a motion with the U.S. District Court to have a judge place a protective order on all materials in the sting that led to Arredondo’s May 16 indictment. The DOJ document, filed Wednesday, said Arredondo’s attorney didn’t object.

Prosecutors said they had amassed “a large amount of material” with sensitive information to ongoing and closed investigations.

“If this information were to be publically disclosed, such disclosure might impede those investigations which are ongoing and/or impair the privacy rights of third parties whose conduct is or was at one time under investigation,” prosecutors wrote to the court.

Under the motion, Arredondo and his legal team would have access to the information to mount a defense but could not share that information with others.

While the motion referenced other investigations, it did not suggest any further information about why the FBI came to investigate Arredondo or the scope of its case.

Arredondo was indicted on charges of bribery, extortion, mail fraud and false statements for events that took place between February 2009 and November 2010. The FBI accused the then-Tempe city councilman of taking more than $6,000 in game tickets from agents posing as developers who wanted access to city officials. In return, the FBI said, Arredondo gave the agents information about the city’s bidding process and promised support as he moved on to the state House of Representatives.

“You guys will ask, you guys will have. I don’t know how else to say it,” the indictment quoted Arredondo as telling the agents. “We’ll be just fine because not only we’re covered at the city, we’re covered now at the state.”

Arredondo, 63, was a Republican during his long tenure on the City Council and in other elected offices. He became a Democrat when he launched his bid for the Legislature. Arredondo attorney Lee Stein has said the facts are different than what the FBI alleges, but that he’ll wait until the matter gets to court to address the specific allegations.

Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com

Tempe City Council pretends to care about government corruption

Tempe considers review of processes

Arredondo's case is raising concerns

by Dianna M. Náñez - May. 28, 2012 08:58 PM

The Republic | azcentral.com

Tempe officials are waiting for the results of a criminal case against a former City Council member before deciding whether to investigate if the city could have done more to prevent the alleged corruption.

But the city's wait-and-see approach could change as more Tempe officials, including outgoing Mayor Hugh Hallman and Mayor-elect Mark Mitchell, push publicly for an internal audit of city processes. The goal is to ensure that nothing more could have been done to prevent state Rep. Ben Arredondo, D-Tempe, a former Tempe councilman, from possibly abusing his power for personal gain.

The federal probe could extend beyond Tempe.

Last week, federal prosecutors signaled that others are being investigated in separate cases. That news came when they asked a judge to seal much of the information that they will turn over to attorneys for Arredondo.

The prosecutors stated that the material they would provide Arredondo's lawyers "contains confidential and sensitive information related to other investigations (both closed and ongoing). If this information were to be publicly disclosed, such disclosure might impede those investigations which are ongoing and/or impair the privacy rights of third parties whose conduct is or was at one time under investigation."

Arredondo's arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday at U.S. District Court in Phoenix.

The indictment against Arredondo, who was also involved in the Fiesta Bowl scandal, has rocked Tempe City Hall.

Arredondo was indicted May 16 on bribery, mail-fraud, lying and extortion charges stemming from an FBI sting that took place between February 2009, when Arredondo was a Tempe councilman, and November 2010, shortly after he won a House seat. The indictment alleges that Arredondo accepted about $6,000 worth of tickets to sporting and charity events in exchange for giving a fictional developer the inside track on a Tempe land deal.

Tempe spokeswoman Nikki Ripley said the city is monitoring the case against Arredondo, a former Republican who served on the council for 16 years before switching parties to run for the Legislature. The need for an internal audit of city policies hinges on how the federal case develops, she said.

The city refused to name a Tempe principal planner whom Arredondo arranged to meet with the fake development corporation set up by the FBI. It appears that the FBI created the fake company to determine whether Arredondo would use the power of his office to assist the developer.

Tempe will allow the planner to keep working and will not name the person, pending the criminal charges against Arredondo, Ripley said.

According to the indictment, Arredondo also arranged meetings between the developer and an incoming council member and two sitting council members. Ripley said the city will not name those council members because their names are not provided in the indictment.

Arredondo did not tell city officials or council members that he had received anything of value from the fake developer, according to the indictment.

The indictment states that Arredondo indicated during the meeting he brokered between the council members and the developer that he facilitated the introduction so the company would have "personal access to the City Council after his departure."

Councilman Joel Navarro said he had no problem confirming that he is one of the unnamed council members because he has nothing to hide and had no knowledge of Arredondo accepting items from the fake developer.

"I assure the residents that I did nothing wrong," he said, adding that he supports an internal audit of city policies. "Ethical reviews, development issues, policy reviews should be done with every city every couple of years. It does not hurt, especially with this (indictment) coming up from within (our city)."

Councilwoman Robin Arredondo-Savage also confirmed that Arredondo, who is her uncle, had her meet with the developer.

"I was the council member-elect. I was invited to the meeting. It was a meeting to talk with someone who may want to do business in Tempe," she said. "Did we do anything wrong? Absolutely not."

Multiple sources have stated that Councilman Corey Woods is the third unnamed elected official in the indictment. Woods said he could not comment on an ongoing investigation but would support an internal audit.

In the wake of the indictment, Mitchell, a three-term councilman who takes office as mayor in July, and Hallman have advocated for an internal audit.

"We have to make sure something like this will never happen again," Mitchell said. "We need to dramatically tighten our system and ensure greater transparency and accountability in City Hall. We owe it to our residents."

Hallman said he will encourage his council colleagues to consider an internal review and adopt the strictest regulation of gifts to city officials and council expenses.

Terence Ball, an Arizona State University political-science professor, said the council should come together on launching an audit immediately if it wants residents to keep faith in their local government.

"Why wouldn't Tempe or any other city want full disclosure? Why wouldn't they want to be as proactive as they can? There's that old saying, 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant.' It seems to apply here," he said.

I'm a royal government ruler, it's impossible for me to commit a crime!!!

Arredondo pleads not guilty to 'manufactured' charges

by Michael Kiefer - May. 30, 2012 09:49 PM

The Republic | azcentral.com

State Rep. Ben Arredondo pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal counts of bribery, fraud and extortion, charges that his attorney called "manufactured."

U.S. District Court Magistrate Lawrence Anderson set a trial date of July 3 for the former Tempe councilman and allowed him to remain out of custody on his own recognizance.

Outside the courtroom, Arredondo's attorney, Lee Stein, called Arredondo "a dedicated public official targeted by the government in D.C."

"What we have here is the government took three years and spent thousands of dollars to invent a crime," Stein said. "Ben Arredondo is not for sale."

Arredondo, 63, was implicated in a sting in which FBI agents posed as real-estate developers. According to the indictment handed up May 16, Arredondo accepted gifts and tickets to sporting events in 2009 and 2010 in exchange for promises of favors while a Tempe councilman and a state representative. He is charged with two counts of mail fraud and one count each of bribery, extortion and false statements.

Arredondo stood quietly as the magistrate discussed the conditions of his release. He was asked to surrender his passport. The magistrate noted that Arredondo had tested positive for amphetamines but recognized that it was common for people taking Adderall, a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.

Anderson denied the prosecution's motion for a protective order sealing the discovery, the evidence it must soon turn over to the defense attorneys.

"I'm not going to seal documents that do not concern confidential materials," he said.

Arredondo judge orders pre-trial documents sealed

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Arredondo judge orders pre-trial documents sealed

Magistrate orders pre-trial documents sealed

by Dianna M. Náñez - Jun. 6, 2012 09:56 PM

The Republic | azcentral.com

A federal judge has reversed his earlier decision and ordered sealed certain pre-trial discovery documents in the criminal case against state Rep. Ben Arredondo, a former longtime Tempe councilman.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Lawrence Anderson on Monday wrote that he now supported a second government motion for a protective order because prosecutors had limited the scope of their request and narrowly defined the materials they want kept confidential. Arredondo's attorneys agreed to the government's request.

The judge's order to seal documents may signal that the federal probe could extend beyond Arredondo, but also impedes public access to materials filed before trial in the case.

Anderson wrote that the government maintains that "if the confidential information were publicly disclosed" it might impede investigations which are ongoing and disclose witnesses' addresses and phone numbers.

Anderson ordered that only Arredondo, his attorneys and their employees can view documents that fall into four categories:

• Materials related to people or entities no longer under investigation in open or closed cases.

• Materials related to individuals who have agreed to cooperate with the government in the investigation of other persons or entities.

• Materials related to individuals who provided background information to law enforcement regarding the investigation of other persons or entities and requested their identities not be disclosed.

• All financial records, tax records and personal information that would identify individuals, such as addresses, Social Security numbers and birth dates.

If either side wants their public disclosure, they must get approval from the opposing attorneys. If either side opposes the disclosure, the attorney could ask the court to approve their release for public inspection.

Arredondo pleaded not guilty last week to federal counts of bribery, fraud and extortion. He was indicted last month in a case stemming from an FBI sting, in which prosecutors allege Arredondo accepted about $6,000 worth of tickets to sporting and charity events in exchange for giving a fictional developer the inside track on a Tempe land deal.

Anderson has set Arredondo's trial date for July 3.

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