Judge Birotte sentenced Dayspring to 22 months on the count of bribery and 22 months for tax fraud to be served concurrently. About a year before Helios Dayspring would plead guilty to felony charges of bribery and tax evasion, an attorney for the cannabis businessman sent an email to San Luis Obispo city officials. In total, Dayspring paid the late Third District supervisor multiple bribes in cash and money orders totaling $32,000. In January 2020, Hill was the deciding vote when the board again extended the abeyance 3-2. And in small towns and counties, access can increase temptation. The Board of Supervisors approved that abeyance for existing growers with the initial moratorium vote in September 2016. On April 6, 2019, Hill texted Dayspring and one of his employees, your industry should give me one giant French kiss wrapped in money after my work today., In another text, Hill asked, Wheres the industry support for my reelection? The board voted unanimously to grant the abeyance to growers who had registered with the county before the ban went into effect, a decision that benefited Dayspring, his plea agreement says. In Daysprings case, $29,000 was the amount of money handed to the official and $3,000 was the value of in-kind gifts of food and cannabis provided by Dayspring. He also underreported income on returns filed from 2014 to 2018, according to the agreement. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The freshest news in Santa Barbara County. Hill died by suicide at age 54 in August 2020. ", COUNTY SUPERVISOR: "Got it. In addition to bribing the San Luis Obispo County supervisor, Dayspring admitted in his plea agreement that he and his business associate attempted to bribe the then-mayor of Grover Beach in exchange for two dispensary licenses in that city. In the end, he amassed an empire he valued at $30 million. Helios Dayspring's workers transporting immigrant women to a grow in Tepusquet Canyon in Northern Santa Barbara County. Do not corruptly influence political decision makers. For 2018, for example, he reported taxable income of $1.26 million when his actual income was more than $6.5 million. Once the IRS is aboard a federal criminal investigation, it becomes easier for the prosecutor to get copies of the targets federal tax returns without a court order. County, Dayspring was well-known in northern Santa Barbara County, where he operated several industrial-scale cannabis operations off the steep and winding road that wends through the bucolic paradise of Tepusquet Canyon. Helios Raphael Dayspring, who goes by the name "Bobby Dayspring," was charged in federal court with one count of bribery and one count of subscribing to a false 2018 income tax return that . Residents there had been complaining of Daysprings aggressive scofflaw methods large trucks driving back and forth, night lights and night generators blaring forth, illegal grading, creek degradation, and cultivating in excess of permits since 2015. And no mention of cannabis federal illegality. Daysprings first court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 25 in Los Angeles. It will continue to be a black eye on the County and legal weed industry. According to CalCoastNews, Dayspring agreed to a "confidential settlement" with William Szymczak, an 83-year-old investor who put more than $17 million into . (David Middlecamp / San Luis Obispo Tribune photo), Lindsey Holden, Matt Fountain and Kaytlyn Leslie for The San Luis Obispo Tribune, Click here to read more stories from The San Luis Obispo Tribune, Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Even though cannabis production and distribution is legal in California, it remains illegally federally. Helios "Bobby" Dayspring, 36, of San Luis Obispo appeared before Judge Andre Birotte, Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the Central District, where he was sentenced to 22 months in prison after . Editors Note: Since the legalization of marijuana, allegations of bribery, human trafficking, black market sales and money laundering have surfaced. Thom Mrozek You're on the list. (also known as Big Law) or have you worked at Big Law and are now in a specialty or boutique firm that advises big business on such things as tax, land use, employment, mergers and acquisitions (M&A)? The corruption continues with the City of SLO ignoring the fact that Helios Dayspring owns a controlling interest in Megans Organic Market and SLOCAL Roots, both of which are front organizations for money laundering and California Dept of Cannabis Control license fraud. His health is a question given that gut. In May 2020, the FBI questioned county supervisors John Peschong, Debbie Arnold, Bruce Gibson and Lynn Compton regarding government corruption. Director of Media Relations A San Luis Obispo County cannabis grower and dispensary owner bribed the late County Supervisor Adam Hill and attempted to bribe the mayor of Grover Beach, and will plead guilty to federal bribery and tax crimes. Powered by WordPress VIP. Helios Raphael Dayspring, a.k.a. When the mayor returned to the table, Dayspring had typed 100,000 in the calculator app on his phone and showed it to the mayor, which he said was for two. In his plea agreement, Dayspring said he meant to convey that he was prepared to pay $100,000 for the mayors help in securing two dispensary permits. The maximum sentence for the bribery and tax offense is 13 years, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, but Dayspring is likely to get a much lighter sentence in exchange for his guilty plea. Dayspring had one goal: build a cannabis empire, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. This means that even little bits (think ounces not kilos) of product and a few restaurant meals with wine spread out over years can amount to federal bribery. Daysprings downfall is a warning to all. 312 North Spring Street In 2017 the city began accepting permit applications, and Dayspring applied for two dispensary permits. Do you defend (in state and local courts) individuals charged with cannabis possession and/or distribution? Dayspring also agreed to pay $3.4 million in restitution the amount he kept from the Internal Revenue Service by underreporting his income and to cooperate with prosecutors and agents from the IRS and FBI who are said to be probing corruption in San Luis Obispo County. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case. "Bobby Dayspring," 36, was sentenced by United States District Judge Andr Birotte Jr. Dayspring has paid the restitution order of $3,438,793 to the IRS in this case. One can suppose existence will be about 10 years, 22 months in prison divided by 120 months overall hmmm sad choice Mr. Mendota. Daysprings experience should serve as a warning to other operators. Have you ever worked as a federal prosecutor? SLO economy hampered by slow growth, economist says, Houweling sued over workers comp claims from Camarillo greenhouse, Santa Barbara cannabis company makes $23.5M acquisition. More dope, free money, entitlements galore at the expense of all those nasty corporations and filthy rich dishonest people, could be what they are thinking? The filing adds that Dayspring and Hill held a political fundraiser at Hills home where $13,000 was raised in June 2019. Success! Public Information Officer Authorities ruled Hills death a suicide. The SG100K has been officially launched by Singapore's Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung on Friday, 16 December 2022. They told me Im a witness, Peschong told The Tribune. A locked padlock Dayspring has also been embroiled in a series of lawsuits from former business partners, including a lawsuit by investor William Szymczak, who claims Dayspring allegedly diverted millions in company funds to himself,and used some to try to stave off IRS and FBI investigations. Harmon literally got into bed with the criminals and was influenced by the pillow talk. The mayor did not respond to the offer, and Dayspring did not pay the bribe. Gov. Bobby Dayspring, 35, was charged in federal court with one count of bribery and one count of subscribing to a false 2018 income tax return that deliberately failed to report millions of dollars in income to the IRS. Official websites use .gov By KAREN VELIE. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter, which is part of an ongoing public corruption investigation in San Luis Obispo County. Shoals did not respond to the offer, the plea agreement states. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Dayspring did so, the U.S. DOJ alleges, for favorable votes on cannabis legislation, advocacy to other public officials and the disclosure of non-public county information regarding cannabis-related issues for the benefit of Daysprings businesses. In July this year Dayspring spelled out how he conspired with Megan Souza, Eric Powers, and Nick Andre in NHC SLO LLC vs City of SLO (case #21CV-0734) to fraudulently obtain all three SLO City cannabis store permits. He was slated to open a San Luis Obispo location as well as a Turlock location sometime this year, butpermit issues delayed the local project. A lock ( The quid pro quo was clear, according to Daysprings plea agreement. Well see what we can do. Cannabis businessperson Helios Dayspring entered formal guilty pleas to federal criminal charges, apparently ending a lengthy corruption saga involving multiple marijuana companies and local California officials.. Have a question about Government Services? He crossed the ethical line. Shoals did not respond to that offer at the dinner, prosecutors said. At one point, Hill texted Dayspring that he had to keep these fs (other county supervisors) from going way beyond and it is exhausting! Gavin Newsomappointed Dawn Ortiz-Legg to fill the District 3 seatin November 2020. Surely, the judge took that fact into consideration when imposing Daysprings 22-month sentence under federal guideline sentence. As of 2019, Dayspring also owned 18 properties in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties where he either grows marijuana or was planning to cultivate it,he told The Tribune at the time. Other supervisors said the announcement of Daysprings charges marked an end to the investigation that has hung over the boards head. He discussed with the supervisor the importance of keeping the abeyance in place, writing in a text message, Its really important u guys extend the timeframe for submission and dont allow other people in yet, according to the plea agreement. Ciaran McEvoy Helios "Bobby" Dayspring, 35, agreed to plead guilty to one count of bribery and one count of filing a false tax return for failing to report millions of dollars in income to the Internal Revenue . You're on the list. Suite 1200 Dayspring, who is a graduate of Morro Bay High School, operated a number of cannabis operations in San Luis Obispo County and elsewhere in California, mostly under the name Natural Healing Center. Helios Dayspring, owner of Lemoore's Natural Healing Center cannabis dispensary and lounge, pled guilty to bribing SLO County Supervisor Adam Hill. Dayspring admitted to paying bribes to then-San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill for favorable votes on his cannabis business interests and for deliberately failing to report millions of dollars in income to the IRS. And with the hope that such a payment to the IRS would increase the chances of a lower sentence than the statutory max of 13 years, Daysprings current lawyers advised him to pay in full, which he did before his sentencing. Judge Andre Birotte told the parties no one forced him to do it. The court, however, did show some leniency, sentencing Dayspring to five fewer months than the prosecutor had recommended. Helios Dayspring, who also goes by Bobby, agreed to a plea deal that was filed July 28 in federal court in Los Angeles and is likely to land him in prison for around 33 months. Hill responded: Got it. Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Andrew Andr Birotte Jr. sentenced Dayspring a larger-than-life cannabis grower who owned hundreds of acres throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and ran three dispensaries in San Luis Obispo County to 22 months, the lowest sentence of the options available to him. Dayspring allegedly paid the late District 3 supervisor $32,000 in cash and money orders in exchange for beneficial votes on issues related to his farms, including those in favor of legislation that allowed cannabis grows to operate before receiving final permit approvals, the release said. Helios Dayspring, who also goes by "Bobby," agreed to a plea deal that was filed July . Hell emerge as he enters a very rich man. During his sentencing, Daysprings attorney requested Dayspring spend his incarceration at the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc where it would be easier for family and friends to visit him. LOS ANGELES A San Luis Obispo man was sentenced today to 22 months in federal prison for paying a county supervisor approximately $32,000 in bribes most of them in cash in exchange for the supervisors votes and influence on other votes affecting his cannabis business interests. But even though some criminal defense lawyers and family lawyers have cannabis-related law practices, and some refer to themselves as cannabis lawyers, they are not generally equipped to provide quality regulatory and transactional services to the cannabis operator. The nature of the warrants was unknown at the time, as they were under seal. Harmon was having a sexual relationship with Quinn Brady, her assistant/campaign manager at the time. Copyright 2023 Santa Barbara Independent, Inc. Reproduction of material from any Independent.com pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. Has the lawyer assisted and prepared five separate and unrelated cannabis licensing applications? 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