Brother of ex-Chula Vista councilmember sentenced on grand theft charges

Domenick Candelieri
·2 min read

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Jesus Cardenas, the brother of former Chula Vista City Councilmember Andrea Cardenas, was sentenced on Wednesday to 45 days in work furlough, 135 days in home detention and two years formal probation for committing two felony counts of grand theft, prosecutors said.

In February, Jesus and Andrea faced multiple felony counts before changing their pleas for two of the charges to guilty in court after reaching deals with prosecutors. The other six charges against both siblings were dismissed, according to their counsel Pedro Bernal.

Jesus pleaded guilty to fraud related to funds obtained from the federal Paycheck Protection Program and the state Employment Development Department, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a news release Tuesday. Jesus, who acknowledged to laundering $176,000 in COVID-19 and using it to pay for personal expenses, also unlawfully applied for over $26,000 in unemployment benefits.

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The court ordered Jesus to abide to the following as part of his probation:

  • Submit to search and seizure.

  • Operate any business legally and comply with all rules and regulations of such business including being licensed, paying taxes, and comply with any campaign finance laws.

  • Pay back the full amount of the funds he stole including $176,227 to the Small Business Administration joint and several with co-defendant Andrea, $26,700 to the Employment Development Department, and an amount to be determined to the Franchise Tax Board.

If Jesus violates the terms of his probation, he could be ordered to serve up to two years and eight months in custody, according to prosecutors.

Andrea will be sentenced in August. With the plea deal, she may be able to bring the charges down from a felony to a misdemeanor, lowering her prison time. The former city councilmember faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months behind bars.

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