The former chief of staff to Hollister Councilwoman Eugenia
Sanchez in her bid for Assembly
– the man suspected of attempting to extort money from her – is
facing proceedings in United States immigration courts, a U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman confirmed
today.
The former chief of staff to Hollister Councilwoman Eugenia Sanchez in her bid for Assembly – the man suspected of attempting to extort money from her – is facing proceedings in United States immigration courts, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman confirmed today.
The San Benito County District Attorney’s Office filed charges in late December alleging attempted extortion against Anand Goundar, who had lived in the Sacramento area, following an investigation by the Hollister Police Department.
Goundar in late January failed to appear for a scheduled arraignment in San Benito County Court.
Immigration and customs spokeswoman Virginia Kice confirmed Goundar has a pending case in the immigration courts and she noted he has not been deported from the country. She declined to comment further, however, while citing U.S. Department of Homeland Security privacy policies.
It is unclear, therefore, what circumstances surround his possible deportation or where Goundar has citizenship.
Goundar’s status in immigration courts, meanwhile, puts his proceedings in San Benito County Court on hold.
“Basically, we let the immigration case sort of run its course,” said Deputy District Attorney Peter Leroe-Munoz, acknowledging the prosecution became aware of Goundar’s immigration case independent of the ICE agency. “We really can’t do anything prior to them reaching a conclusion.”
Local prosecutors’ charges allege Goundar attempted to extort additional money after he had sold Sanchez a vehicle while telling her he would embarrass her in the media by accusing her of political wrongdoing – specifically, that she did not report two Assembly campaign donations from him totaling $1,800.
Sanchez could not be reached immediately before publication.
