LOS ANGELES, CA – Authorities served multiple search warrants across Huntington Park on Wednesday as part of a widening corruption investigation focused on the alleged misuse of public funds tied to a long-stalled $14 million aquatics center project.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that warrants were executed at Huntington Park City Hall, a city Public Works facility, and at Salt Lake Park—the proposed site for the aquatic center. Additional warrants were served at the homes of Mayor Karina Macias, City Manager Ricardo Reyes, and Councilman Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez. Residences belonging to former council members Graciela Ortiz and Marilyn Sanabria were also searched, along with the home of former city official Efren Martinez.
The investigation also targets the business dealings of private contractors linked to the project. Search warrants were issued for the offices of Unified Consulting Services in Huntington Park, and the homes of Edvin Tsaturyan and Sona Vardikyan, identified as the owners of JT Construction Group Inc., a company reportedly connected to the project.
In a statement, the District Attorney’s Office said the investigation began in November 2022 and centers on “the potential misuse of millions of dollars in public funds allocated for the construction of an aquatic center at Salt Lake Park in the City of Huntington Park.” Officials did not provide details on specific charges or suspects.
Investigators were seen entering and exiting Huntington Park City Hall throughout the morning. Yellow police tape cordoned off areas of the building, and large boxes of documents and electronic devices were carried out by plainclothes personnel. According to the District Attorney’s Office, items seized included public records, financial documents, computers, tablets, cell phones, and other electronic equipment.
Vice Mayor Arturo Flores, who was not among those named in the search warrants, publicly expressed concern over the status of the project and its financial management. “This is a project that has yielded nothing for the residents,” Flores said. “It’s my understanding that there’s an estimated $14 million, give or take, that has been expended by the city, and that from those funds, the residents of the city have only received an empty lot with dead grass and nothing to show for those millions of dollars.”
The proposed aquatics center was introduced as a major community improvement initiative and was expected to provide swimming facilities and recreational infrastructure to a predominantly working-class area of southeast Los Angeles County. Years later, residents have seen no construction and little transparency, despite budgetary allocations dating back several fiscal cycles.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who took office in 2024, said in a statement that his office is committed to investigating all credible allegations of public corruption. “When concerns arise about the use of public funds or the actions of those in office, it is our duty to investigate thoroughly and protect the public’s trust,” Hochman said.
The raids mark the latest escalation in what appears to be a complex and multi-pronged probe. The inclusion of both current and former city officials, as well as private contractors, suggests investigators are scrutinizing the entire procurement and administrative process that surrounded the aquatics center.
No arrests have been made, and the identities of any formal suspects have not been disclosed. The District Attorney’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing and declined to provide a timeline for possible charges.
Public corruption investigations in small cities like Huntington Park, with a population just under 60,000, often expose deep-rooted issues in local governance, especially where financial oversight and contracting procedures are loosely monitored. While such probes are typically time-intensive, the scope of Wednesday’s search operation indicates that the case has entered a more aggressive phase.
Members of the public with relevant information are encouraged to contact Sgt. Robert L. Jackson at the D.A.’s Bureau of Investigation at 213-257-2511. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through official online portals.
