The Heat Rises for Sweetwater Union High School District Trustees and Associates

While attention from the district attorney’s December 20 raids was focused on Sweetwater Union High School District trustees, the agents also searched the homes of former of Southwestern College officials.

Both districts were recipients of significant construction-bond monies in recent years. Southwestern College passed Proposition R for $389 million in 2008; prior to that, in 2007, Sweetwater passed Proposition O for $644 million.

Agents raided the home of Nicholas Alioto, former vice president of business and finance. Alioto was in charge of awarding construction contracts.

Henry Amigable’s home was also searched. In September 2010, the San Diego Reader reported, “Amigable appears to follow the bond money. According to a Seville [Construction Services] press release, he joined the company in April 2009. Prior to joining Seville, Amigable worked for Gilbane Construction. He had been responsible for the oversight and management of Proposition O construction at Sweetwater Union High School District.”

The home of John Wilson was also searched. John Wilson was the director of business and operations for Southwestern College and oversaw the construction projects for both Proposition AA (an $89 million bond that passed in 2000) and Proposition R. When Wilson retired from Southwestern in 2009, he went to work for Seville Construction Services as a consultant earning $165 an hour.

Like Amigable, Greg Sandoval (whose home was also raided) was a crossover between Southwestern and Sweetwater. Sandoval was a Sweetwater trustee for 16 years, during which time he was also vice president of student affairs at Southwestern College. Sandoval is currently listed as vice president of student services at Morena Valley College.

Pictured: Henry Amigable