Ventura County Sheriff's Department

An investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes -Financial Crimes Unit leads to the arrest of Claudia Portugal Cornejo for four (4) felony counts of Grand Theft, four (4) felony counts of Presentation of Fraudulent Claim, two (2) felony counts of False Presentation of Another, one (1) felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Crime and the arrest of Sergio Cornejo for one (1) felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Crime.

Claudia and Sergio Cornejo own and operate Fillmore General Services in the city of Fillmore. Claudia Cornejo informed clients of their business and family they qualified for Covid Grant Relief funding through the Business Assistance Grant Program offered by the county of Ventura and the California Grant Relief Program offered by the State of California. Claudia Cornejo charged a fee for their services to apply for the grant funding. Claudia and Sergio Cornejo doctored tax documents to elevate gross income. Claudia then submitted fraudulent business certificates and manipulated documents to obtain grant funding for clients who were otherwise not qualified for grant funding. Claudia and Sergio Cornejo did the same for their own grant funding.

Investigators believe Claudia Cornejo secured $95,000.00 in grant funding from fraudulent submission of documents to the county of Ventura and State of California during the time period of June 2020 to November 2021. Claudia and Sergio Cornejo were arrested in Fillmore on October 20, 2022.

Claudia Cornejo was booked into the Pre Trial Detention Facility. Claudia Cornejo’s bail has been set at $50,000.00 dollars.

Sergio Cornejo was booked into the Pre Trial Detention Facility. Sergio Cornejo’s bail has been set at $50,000.00 dollars.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident or may be a victim is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Jason Cantrall at 805-384-4744.

Nature of Incident: Arrest of Fraud Suspects
Report Number: 21-144558
Location: Fillmore
Date & Time: 10/20/2022 @ 12:00 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes -Financial Crimes Unit, Fillmore Police Department
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(S) Claudia Portugal Cornejo, Fillmore, 49
(S) Sergio Cornejo, Fillmore, 52
(V) County of Ventura – County Executive Office
(V) State of California
Prepared by: Jason Cantrall, Sergeant
Approved by: Victor Medina, Captain

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

On Saturday, October 22nd, 2022, Sheriff’s detectives conducted compliance checks at the residences of forty-one (41) registered sex offenders throughout the City of Fillmore and the surrounding unincorporated areas. The compliance checks were funded through the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE / ELEAS) program.

Thirty-two (32) of the sex registrants were confirmed to be in compliance with their registration requirements. Nine (9) registrants were not contacted because they were either not home or had moved. Sheriff’s detectives will follow-up to determine if the nine registrants not contacted are out-of-compliance.

The Sheriff’s Office aggressively pursues prosecution of those sex registrants who fail to comply with their registration requirements. Detectives will be conducting similar sweeps on an ongoing basis to verify the registered sex offenders in our community are living at their reported residences and remain in compliance with any probation or parole terms. Residents of Ventura County can visit the Megan’s Law website (www.meganslaw.ca.gov) to familiarize themselves with the sex registrants in their community.

Nature of Incident: Sex Registrant Compliance Sweep
Report Number: N/A
Location: City of Fillmore and Surrounding Unincorporated Areas
Date & Time: October 22nd, 2022
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau
Prepared by: Sergeant Hector Macias
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

On Saturday, October 15th the Historic Fillmore Towne Theatre opened for a free screening of the award-winning film “. . . and the earth did not swallow him” for residents to enjoy as the opening of the new theatre. Photo credit Carina Monica Montoya.

Written by Carina Monica Montoya

The Historic Fillmore Theater opened its doors on Saturday, October 15th, for a free screening of the award-winning film “. . . and the earth did not swallow him”, a 1994 movie about a migrant farm-working family in the 1950s. Many of the scenes were filmed in Piru.

A 4:00 p.m. matinee featured a children’s dance group that performed a short traditional Mexican dance, and a special appearance by El Mariachi Los Rayos performed at the 6:00 showing. Actors Marco Rodriguez, Art Bonilla, Danny Haro, and director Severo Perez attended the event and were available after the last showing to Meet & Greet and answer questions.

It was a day of celebrating the opening of the 100+ year old theater. Strong community involvement and interest in the organization of the event and community attendance in support of its local theater, evidences the desire of many Fillmore residents to have its own theater and place to gather for entertainment.

The Fillmore Women’s Service Club donated funds for popcorn and water, and La Fondita Mexican Restaurant donated the use of their popcorn machine and provided the actors with a beautiful tray of pastries. Theater owner, Sean McCulley, spent weeks readying costly repairs needed before the theater could open. Fillmore resident Juan Toledo was MC for the event and donated many hours in support of the event by reaching out to people and organizations. Many others came together to help at the theater to bag and handout popcorn and water. A very special appearance was made by Ernie Morales, former City Council and Mayor of Fillmore, and his wife Becky, who both helped and supported the organizers in making the event a success.

City of Fillmore

8.A REQUEST That the City Council: (1) appropriate funding in the amount of $963,800 from the Water Development Impact Fees (DIF) fund, (2) authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Control Systems West for an amount not to exceed ($983,714.74) for upgrades and maintenance to the City’s SCADA system, including the purchase and installation of a new chlorine analyzer at each well, and (3) authorize the Assistant City Manager to execute a purchase order with APEX for the new server and related equipment needed for the new SCADA system in the amount of $16,286.26
Passed 5-0
8.B REQUEST Staff requests that the City Council award a professional services agreement to Peckham & McKenney in the amount of $25,500 for executive recruiting services, approve a one-time General Fund appropriation in the same amount, and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Peckham & McKenney in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Passed 5-0
8.C REQUEST That the City Council approve a proposed new full-time unrepresented Public Works Senior Management Analyst classification and job description for this classification and appropriation of funding for this position for the second half of the 2022-23 year.
Approved 5-0 REQUEST Approve Resolution No. 22-3904 authorizing the Assistant City Manager or City Finance Director to execute contracts with a municipal advisor and certain other professionals and permitting the Administration and finance team to initiate the bond issuance process and bring contracts with other professionals and the bond documents back for final City Council approval prior to the bond sale.
Passed 5-0
8-D REQUEST Approve Resolution No. 22-3904 authorizing the Assistant City Manager or City Finance Director to execute contracts with a municipal advisor and certain other professionals and permitting the Administration and finance team to initiate the bond issuance process and bring contracts with other professionals and the bond documents back for final City Council approval prior to the bond sale.
Approved 5-0
8-E REQUEST Approve City Attorney contract amendment for legal services. DISCUSSION Tiffany Israel of Aleshire and Wynder serves as the city’s City Attorney and has done an excellent job representing the city and handling our legal matters. She is a key contributor to the management team and a valued member. The last increase was approved in December 14, 2022. A majority of the rate increases will be paid by third parties such that this proposed amendment will have minimal impact on the General Fund Budget.
Approved 5-0

2022 Elections will be held on November 8th.

Fillmore City Council has one partial term (2-year) seat to fill, and two candidates, Lynn Edmonds and Chris Gurrola.

The Gazette submitted 3 questions to each candidate.

There are also two full-term (4-year) seats on council and four candidates, Carrie Broggie, Albert Mendez, Zachary Lotshaw and Luis Rodriquez. Their answers will be published in next week’s edition of the Gazette.

The three specific questions for direction were:

1. Qualifications which prepare you to serve on Council.

2. What actions taken by the current council in the last two years do you agree with most and why? What actions do you disagree with most and why?

3. What is your vision for Fillmore if elected/reelected? What do you perceive as the five most important priorities for the city?

***

LYNN EDMONDS

1. Qualifications which prepare you to serve on Council.

It has been a pleasure to serve Fillmore on the City Council for the last four years. Prior to that I was principal of Piru Elementary and Fillmore Middle School. I have always worked with others to help Fillmore families, youth, to keep the town safe and improve the environment. I was on the founding committee of the Boys and Girls Club, founded the Fillmore Piru Mentor Program (BBSVC) and the One Step a la Vez Teen Program because it was clear that Fillmore Teens needed a safe, fun place to go after school to get help with homework and “hang” with friends in a welcoming, fun, safe environment. Clearly, youth and families of Fillmore are very important to me. In few words, I love Fillmore as a city and enjoy representing the people of Fillmore.

As a member of the City Council I represent Fillmore on many committees and report back to the community on the many activities that each committee has to help the residents of Fillmore such as the Air Pollution Control Board, the Ventura Transportation Commission, the Regional Energy Alliance and the Regional Sanitation District. All of my actions prepared me to better understand, represent and be elected to the City Council which I have enjoyed. I have learned so very much during my four years on the Council and feel that my prior four years have even better qualified me for the next two years.

2. What actions taken by the current council in the last two years do you agree with most and why? What actions do you disagree with most and why?

As a member of the City Council for the last four years, I am proud that we are finally fixing the parks and the park bathrooms and the dog park, soon to repair Sespe Ave and Santa Clara, are working to improve the downtown, are improving our website and looking at the water/sewer bills to see if there is a way to lower the cost of the bill. As a member of the City Council I was disappointed that the council voted down having community conversations and chose to not even investigate joining the Clean Power Alliance which possibly could not only help our environment, but also lower our bills.

3. What is your vision for Fillmore if elected/reelected? What do you perceive as the five most important priorities for the city?

My vision for the next years is to:

1) Improve the Downtown by reviewing the recommendations of the Downtown consultants and support the merchants as they work to improve the downtown while at the same time we maintain the streets in good repair and cleanliness,

2) Provide more low income housing so that all persons will have safe, comfortable, affordable housing.

3) Provide interpretation at all meetings and translations for all notices.

4) Save our small town feeling while incorporating the new residents by improving communication about city activities to everyone, sponsor community conversations so that people can meet new people in a positive way.

5) Assure folks that we serve EVERYONE and to work with and serve the entire community regardless of political point of view, ethnicity, language, religion, gender or age.

***

CHRIS GURROLA
1. Qualifications which prepare you to serve on Council.

**The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US Air Force, Department of Defense or the US Government**
My name is Christopher Gurrola. I have 17 years of Military leadership experience, which began when I was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy, after serving as Class of 2005 president at Fillmore High School. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, while serving as the Cadet Squadron Commander. I married my high school sweetheart, Cassandra, right here in town, and we began our 6 moves across the country. Concluding my last assignment in CA, we chose to buy a house in Fillmore - which incurred a 200-mile round-trip commute for me for 3 years - so that our four children could grow up in such a phenomenal place! I finished Active Duty as the Director of Operations for the 412thOperations Support Squadron at Edwards AFB. I continue serving as a civilian USAF instructor pilot, and also serve in the Air National Guard at the rank of Major. I want to put Fillmore’s tax dollars back to work, using the high quality training and experience that I have received, to better serve our community.

2. What actions taken by the current council in the last two years do you agree with most and why? What actions do you disagree with most and why?

Most recently, I agree with the City Council’s decision to use our tax dollars to implement the City of Fillmore Downtown Rehabilitation Grant Program. It’s an honest attempt by the City to assist property owners and businesses in keeping Fillmore a beautiful, walkable town. The approval of funding to re-open the dog park at Two Rivers Park was another great decision. A flood control basin at Rio Vista Park was quickly perceived as a viable solution simply because it is a gated area. The city was unfortunately sending mixed messages during that time, but ultimately made the right decision to invest in the promise of a true dog park at Two Rivers.
Unfortunately, the City Council has missed the opportunity to communicate a clear vision to the people of Fillmore. Despite multiple information gathering and goal setting sessions, there remains an outdated Vision 20/20 plan; the hallmark of the council for roughly 20 years. Leadership requires the creation and maintenance of consistent communication channels, to and from constituents. The City has also unreliably posted meeting minutes to its website, missing the opportunity to concisely communicate decisions of the council, and commissions, to its citizens. It is unreasonable to have to watch hours of recorded video to see the outcome of decisions on scheduled agenda items.

3. What is your vision for Fillmore if elected/reelected? What do you perceive as the five most important priorities for the city?

My vision for Fillmore is to foster a culture that values families and their children; they are the future and bedrock of our town! Smart growth and thoughtful sustainment plans will be required so that our town can support future generations. Five priorities the City must focus on include: articulating a meaningful vision for the next 20 years; updated, reliable communication channels; clear construction guidelines to reduce unnecessary delays and increased construction costs; long-term sustainment plans for parks and public facilities; and traffic control from surrounding cities that consider safety and continued support of local businesses.