Former San Mateo County College District Chancellor Arrested At SFO

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Former San Mateo County College District Chancellor Ronald Galatolo was arrested Tuesday at San Francisco International Airport on a $150,000 arrest warrant for charges that include tax evasion, public corruption and perjury.

Galatolo, who returned from an international trip, was arrested without incident, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. He posted a cash bail of $150,000 after spending approximately three hours in San Mateo County Jail.

Galatolo, who stepped down in 2019 after being appointed by the district's board of trustees in 2001, was one of the subjects of an investigation of the district following a whistleblower complaint alleging public corruption against members of the executive leadership.

Related: Ex-San Mateo Co. Community College District Chancellor Faces Felonies

Prosecutors accused Galatolo of fraudulently reporting a $10,000 charitable donation to a fund towards victims of the 2017 Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa in his own name when it was actually a donation from the college district's foundation.

The charges were part of an ongoing investigation into the use of funds at the community college district, according to the district attorney's office.

The district has three schools in San Mateo County and serves more than 25,000 students.

Galatolo is set to be arraigned April 27.