Ex-S.F. Public Works Dir. Nuru Gets 7 Years For Wire Fraud: DOJ

BY KATY ST. CLAIR

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Former San Francisco Public Works director Mohammed Nuru has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for wire fraud, adding a coda to a high-level city government corruption scandal that exposed not just Nuru but other city officials and agencies.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday that Nuru has been ordered to forfeit his vacation ranch property in Stonyford in Colusa County -- a property that was outfitted with landscaping, vehicles and furniture all given to him through bribes -- and he must surrender to begin serving his sentence on Jan. 6, 2023.

Nuru, 59, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud and was facing a maximum of nine years in prison.

Federal agents initially arrested Nuru in January of 2020 along with Lefty O'Doul's restaurant owner Nick Bovis in an alleged attempt to bribe a San Francisco International Airport commissioner for help to obtain a restaurant concession.

The complaint against Nuru charged him with honest services fraud in public office, alleging a long-running scheme of bribes and kickbacks.

"For at least 12 years, Nuru shook down contractors eager for City business," said U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds, adding that he traded his "authority and influence for millions of dollars in cash, construction work, travel, meals and gifts."

Hinds called his conduct "abhorrent" and corrupt.

Since Nuru's arrest, a dozen defendants linked to the corruption investigation have been charged in federal court, along with three corporate entities. Among those charged include former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission general manager Harlan Kelly and former Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services director Sandra Zuniga.

FBI Special Agent Sean Ragan said that the investigation into this case is not over and that they continue to "unravel and disrupt" corruption in San Francisco.

The list of entities involved with Nuru's grift is long:

-Walter Wong: Nuru accepted "envelopes of cash" from contractor Wong, prosecutors said, adding up to more than $260,000 in construction labor and materials provided to Nuru's San Francisco home and the Stonyford property. Wong also paid for expensive trips for Nuru all over the world with his girlfriend, former head of the Office of Neighborhood Services, Sandra Zuniga; in return, Nuru made sure Wong got lucrative city contracts.
-Recology Inc.: The waste management company bribed Nuru in exchange for favorable treatment by delivering soil to his ranch, providing expensive meals and a trip to New York.
-Nick Bovis: Restaurateur Bovis bribed Nuru "multiple" times through meals and entertainment, as well as thousands of dollars' worth of appliances for his ranch. Nuru also got kickbacks from Bovis for awarding him concession contracts.
-Florence Kong: Kong gave Nuru a Rolex watch valued at $36,550, along with cash and an iron fence which he installed at his ranch. In exchange, Nuru prioritized Kong's business interests.
-Balmore Hernandez, William Gilmartin and Alan Varela: Nuru got a brand new tractor from this trio for his now well-equipped ranch, along with meals and cash. In exchange, Nuru "exercised his official authority and influence to benefit their city business ventures."

Multiple other individuals paid Nuru in exchange for favorable official acts from him, prosecutors said.

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