FBI investigations:Palm Springs City Hall

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has served criminal search warrants to Palm Springs City Hall, an agency spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the Riverside and San Bernardino County district attorneys’ offices.

Three months ago, the Fair Political Practices Commission said that they were investigating a vote by Mayor Steve Pougnet, which awarded the sale of city property at a price that was questionable to developer Richard Meaney. Although the FBI did not comment on the nature of the investigation, a source tells KESQ-TV, an ABC affiliate in Palm Springs, that the warrants are related to allegations of criminal activity. Eimiller said no arrests were expected Tuesday.

The Desert Sun had earlier alleged the mayor to have taken over $200,000 to do the consulting work for Union Abbey which is owned by Meaney and is a suspended business as of now.

California was seeking more than $47,000 in unpaid taxes from Union Abbey when Pougnet began working for the company.

Pougnet, a 52-year-old Democrat who was first elected mayor of Palm Springs in 2007, announced in that same post that he would not seek reelection in 2015.

A closed sign has been placed on the front door of City Hall. FBI agents will be at Palm Springs City Hall for hours in search of evidence.

“I don’t know anything”, Ready said. After that he stopped and didn’t comment further.

Messages left for Pougnet and other members of the council were not immediately returned. Kia Farhang covers Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Desert Hot Springs.