FBI Searches County Assessor’s Office, Personal Residences Tuesday
A team of FBI agents executed a series of search warrants at private homes and the Contra Costa County Assessor’s office Tuesday.
Agents declined to specify who or what they were looking for though a bureau spokesperson confirmed warrants had been served at the assessors office at 2530 Arnold Drive in Martinez, the home of longtime Assessor Gus Kramer on West Arlington Street in Martinez, as well as Assistant county Assessor Vince Robb’s home on Temple Drive in Pacheco.
Kramer spoke to reporters gathered at the assessor’s office, saying: “Apparently, low people in high places are attempting to weaponize the FBI to intimidate the assessment’s office regarding some properties’ values, on some very large properties. It’s really too bad.”
Kramer said the FBI had also executed a warrant at his home.
“I say, I used to work for the sheriff’s office. I understand what they’re doing, but all they had to do was come into the office and ask for it politely. We would have given them everything they wanted,” Kramer told KTVU.
Kramer has faced accusations by law enforcement in the past but has never been charged with a crime or removed from office. He is currently serving out the remainder of his eighth term and will officially retire in December.
A grand jury accused Kramer of “willful or corrupt misconduct in office” in 2019, the accusation stemming from an alleged hostile work environment he allegedly contributed to from 2013 to 2019.
Kramer said at the time he was the victim of “political persecution.” The case ultimately resulted in a mistrial.
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What’s this all about then?
Well, Karmer, this is 2026. Wire fraud is a serious federal crime. “All they had to do was come into the office and ask for it politely.” This master manipulator can sell it to someone else when he ends up behind bars where he belongs.
Hefty accusation there Jennifer, basis?
Firestone 11R
It’s not an accusation, Jeff. It’s being reported by The Chronicle and The Mercury News. JD is a veteran journalist, and I know better than to post something that isn’t being reported.
Evidence Evidence Evidence. Even in this day and age, where public officials can level allegations and smear rivals or whole groups of people, you need evidence. We’ve gotten to the point where people can just make a general statement and expect it to be accepted as fact. This is got to stop. Show us your evidence.
The FBI doesn’t operate on a “general statement.”
Today’s FBI is inherently suspect, so their word and behavior is also suspect. I have no idea about this situation, but so far it’s some pretty generic handwaving and subtle accusations.
This is why courts are the best place to determine the facts and what is truly evidence. Put people under oath with penalty of perjury and suddenly general accusations either get specific or they go away.
His past discretions are finally catching up to him. Mark Peterson is no longer around to protect him. From grand jury indictments for sexual harassment, racial slurs and toxic workplace, to manipulating property values (including his own) to abuse of gift deeds and accusations of retaliation, it was just a matter of time. Who knows how many millions he’s cost us taxpayers.
It was just a matter of time. The BoS swept it under the rug for over thirty years. For those of us who follow the news… if you don’t know a horse, look at its track record.
Its worthy of coverage but there are few quicker ways to ruin someones reputation than by sending the FBI to visit their office. We’ll be following to see what if anything they discover.
Assessor Gustave Stephen Kramer II ruined his reputation himself. Just google Eastbay Times going back to 2008. From joking around with dildos to harassing women to putting an additional tax on his son’s garage for revenge, this guy has lots of skeletons. Power corrupts. The FBI is looking into wiretap fraud and possibly undervaluing his properties that he owns under other people’s names.