San Francisco DA Adds More Charges in DBI Case

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris announced recently that 15 additional charges have been filed against Augustine Fallay, 47, who served as a supervisor in the Department of Building Inspection.

The defendant was arrested on Aug. 4 on a 15-count complaint that included soliciting and accepting bribes, perjury, and violations of the Political Reform Act. The District Attorney now alleges four more bribes as well as additional perjury and Political Reform Act violations. The amended complaint also charges the defendant with nine separate acts of insurance fraud, alleging that between July and October 2001, he submitted oral and written statements to First American Specialty Insurance knowing that the statements contained false and misleading information.

The defendant now faces a total 30 criminal charges – 14 felony counts of asking for and accepting bribes, four felony counts of perjury, nine felony counts of making false statements to an insurance company and three misdemeanor counts of submitting false Statements of Economic Interests in violation of the Political Reform Act.

Adding to the original bribes – a $50,000 loan, cash and improvements on the defendant’s kitchen, bathroom and entryway, among other things – the amended complaint alleges that he asked for or accepted bribes including a variety of assistance from contractors, discounted engineering plans, invoices with false information, and help in getting an insurance payment.

According to court documents, the defendant’s most recent Statement of Economic Interest (SEI) for 2004, like his SEIs for 2000, 2001, and 2003, failed to include reportable interests, and allegedly constitutes perjury and violation of the Political Reform Act.

The Honorable Donna Hitchens granted the People’s Motion to File an Amended Complaint on Sept. 23. The defendant will be arraigned on the new charges and the preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25, in Department 20 of the San Francisco Superior Court.