Updated Oct 17, 2012 - 12:43 pm
Valley tax agent arrested in LA corruption case
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LOS ANGELES -- Phoenix tax consultant Ramin Salari has been arrested, along with Los Angeles County assessor John Noguez and a top aide, as part of an investigation into influence peddling and slashing of property taxes for political allies.
District Attorney Steve Cooley on Wednesday called it the most significant case of public corruption he has seen in his four decades in the district attorney's office.
Noguez, his chief appraiser Mark McNeil and Salari were accused of conspiring to slash property values and save millions in property taxes for clients of Salari, a campaign contributor to Noquez.
At a news conference, Cooley declined to comment on whether owners of the properties knew of the conspiracy.
Defense attorney Michael J. Proctor said Cooley was engaged in a one-sided investigation aimed at "getting" Noguez.
