RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Beaumont’s public corruption case is unraveling with guilty pleas from two of the seven defendants.

Former public works director Deepak Moorjani pleaded guilty to conflict of interest and was sentenced Friday to 3-years’ probation. A Riverside Superior Court judge also ordered Moorjani to pay $3 million in restitution to the city for making contracts that financially benefitted his company Urban Logic Consultants.

Moorjani is disqualified for life from holding any public office in California.

Former police chief Francis ‘Frank’ Coe, Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft for taking out $50,000 in interest-free loans from the city while he was police chief. Coe has repaid the loans. Under his sentencing, Coe will pay restitution and serve 200 hours of community service.

Still facing trial are former city manager Alan Kapanicas, former planning director Ernest Egger, former finance director William Aylward, former city attorney Joseph Aklufi, and former director of economic development David Dillon. They have pleaded not guilty to a 33-count complaint that was filed in May 2016.

Story Date: October 23, 2017