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Former Oakland Building Inspector Accused of Shakedowns, Bribery, and Colluding with Landlords to
Former Oakland Building Inspector Accused of Shakedowns, Bribery, and Colluding with Landlords to Displace TenantsOakland Public Ethics Commission investigators are accusing a former city building inspector of receiving several hundred thousand dollars in bribes and other illicit payments from landlords and hiding these illegal payments while he was employed by Oakland.
Thomas Espinosa, a specialty combination inspector employed by the city from 2005 to 2016 is being charged with 47 violations of Oakland's Government Ethics Act.
PEC staff are recommending he be ordered to pay $1,151,737 in penalties.
Espinosa resigned after department officials tried to fire him in 2016 for colluding with a landlord to push tenants out of a West Oakland building. He was suspected of taking kickbacks from the property owner for his assistance.
Read more: https://www.eastbayexpress.com/SevenDays/archives/2018/10/26/oakland-building-inspector-accused-of-shakedowns-bribery-and-colluding-with-landlords-to-displace-tenants
