– FBI raids occurred on Tuesday, July 28 (or Tuesday according to multiple sources from the coverage dated July 29-30)
– Targets included: San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman, Ontario Councilmember Alan Wapner, attorney Frank Lizarraga, media executive James Su, EDI Media Inc., and a Beverly Hills mansion
– The investigation appears to be related to Chinese foreign influence concerns based on the coverage
– Search warrants remain sealed, no details disclosed
– No direct statements from Hagman, Wapner, or Lizarraga refusing comment
– The coverage does reference a neighbor’s account of seeing Hagman and his wife “in shock” at end of driveway
– Chino Hills Mayor Brian Johsz acknowledged warrants being served
– San Bernardino County issued a statement about being aware of federal investigation
– Ontario International Airport Authority issued a statement
Federal agents served court-sealed search warrants Tuesday at multiple Southern California locations, including a Chino Hills home linked to San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman, and locations connected to Ontario City Councilman Alan Wapner, attorney Frank Lizarraga, media executive James Su, and a $25 million Beverly Hills mansion.
The FBI executed search warrants at the homes or offices of San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman, Ontario Councilmember Alan Wapner, attorney and University of La Verne trustee Frank Lizarraga, and EDI Media Inc., a Chinese American multimedia company based in West Covina.
Hagman represents the county’s 4th District, which represents Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Ontario and Upland, and was first elected County Supervisor in 2014 and also serves as vice president of the Ontario International Airport Authority.
FBI agents were seen going in and out of the property on Biscayne Street in the 3000 block in Chino Hills, carrying items through the garage.
Federal authorities have not released details regarding the nature of the investigation or whether the Beverly Hills search is connected to the Inland Empire operations.
Few details were released about what prompted the searches, as the warrants remain sealed, and an FBI spokesperson told media they are unable to comment on the nature of the investigation.
FOX 11’s Laura Diaz was outside the Chino Hills home as neighbors confirmed Hagman lives there, and federal agents were observed carrying boxes out of the home on Biscayne Street.
No one from Hagman’s residence could be reached for comment at the time of the search.
ABC7 spoke to neighbors who live on the same street as Hagman, who said the Hagmans have lived at the residence for about six years, with one neighbor saying “I was driving by and I just seen a bunch of FBI agents all over the place” and “I seen Mr. Hagman and his wife at the end of the driveway, like, in shock.”
The Ontario Police Department said its personnel did not assist federal authorities in serving a search warrant, adding that a warrant was not executed at Ontario City Hall, though the FBI did formally submit a subpoena to the city’s clerk office.
The FBI confirmed a search warrant was also served at 14010 City Center Drive in Chino Hills.
Search warrants were also served at a Beverly Hills home and at Ontario International Airport.
Chino Hills Mayor Brian Johsz told KTLA, “The city is aware of warrants being served involving the offices of (Curt) Hagman.”
In a statement, San Bernardino County said it is “aware of a federal investigation taking place in our region” and added, “We are not able to provide additional comment at this time.”
A spokesperson for the Ontario International Airport Authority said “We are aware of an investigation being conducted by federal authorities” and “Because this is an active investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further while that process is underway.”
Lizarraga is a well-known civil litigator and University of La Verne trustee who formerly worked for the Southern California Association, and Su’s media company, which includes several L.A.-based media groups including the Chinese-language website iCity News, had to register as a foreign agent in May 2022 because it formerly printed the U.S. version of a newspaper considered a “foreign mission” of the Chinese government.
The series of FBI raids involving San Bernardino County elected officials and a Chinese-language media company are part of a growing probe into public corruption and foreign influence in Southern California, according to law enforcement sources.
U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) said in a statement she was “deeply troubled by the reports the FBI has executed warrants against elected officials in San Bernardino County.”
“I am awaiting further information, but our community has zero tolerance for any corruption at any level of our government,” Torres added.
The FBI told NBC4 Investigates that agents were serving federal search warrants that are under seal.
The government has not disclosed the nature of the investigation and the search warrants remain under seal.