A rave music festival promoter pleaded no contest Thursday to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge stemming from what prosecutors call a bribery and kickback scheme involving former high-level officials at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy immediately sentenced Pasquale Rotella, the 41-year-old founder of Insomniac Events, to three years probation and ordered him to make a $150,000 payment to the Los Angeles County Treasurer/Tax Collector within 45 days.
Two felony counts — conspiracy to commit embezzlement and bribing a public employee — were dismissed against Rotella. Four other counts against him in the indictment were dismissed by the judge in September 2013.
Outside court, Rotella’s attorney, Gary Jay Kaufman, called the case a “very long journey,” noting that it had been more than four years since Rotella and five others were indicted by a Los Angeles County grand jury.
“He actually was innocent of all of the charges in the grand jury indictment,” Kaufman told reporters. “I am elated that this saga is over.”
He said the dismissal of the indictment against Rotella came “on the eve of trial.”
In a statement released by Insomniac, Rotella said, “I always knew the charges were politically motivated and publicity driven. While it’s taken too long to finally put this behind me, I can now focus my energy where it belongs: my family and my company. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this.”
Insomniac Events produces the annual Electric Daisy Carnival rave music event that was formerly held at the Coliseum, but has since moved to Las Vegas.
Rotella was indicted along with rave music promoter Reza Gerami, 41, and ex-Coliseum events manager Todd DeStefano, 43, who are awaiting trial. Prosecutors said they were part of a scheme in which DeStefano allegedly provided access to the Coliseum and low rates in exchange for more than $1.8 million in kickbacks from Rotella and Gerami, owner of Go Ventures Inc.
Prosecutors filed a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge today against Gerami just as they did against Rotella, signaling a possible resolution of the case soon against Gerami, who is due in court Friday.
Patrick Lynch, a former Coliseum general manager who was also indicted, pleaded guilty in March 2012 to a felony conflict of interest charge. He is awaiting sentencing in November.
Former technical manager Leopold Caudillo, 46, is awaiting trial separately. He is due back in court Nov. 18 for a pretrial hearing.
Janitorial contractor Antonio (Tony) Estrada, 76, was also named in the grand jury indictment. Authorities say he is a fugitive.
The case has been marred by allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. At a hearing last year, defense attorneys argued that Deputy District Attorney Dana Aratani, formerly the lead prosecutor on the case, had violated their clients’ rights by reading e-mails sent by Rotella to his lawyer.
Aratani and an investigator were then removed from the case by the District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy District Attorney Terrie Tengelsen and Sean Hassett were subsequently assigned to the case.
Last week, the judge told prosecutors, “You guys are just tripping over your feet and falling on your faces,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
Tengelsen acknowledged at last week’s hearing that she had contact with Aratani about the case, prompting the judge to say, “Oh, my God,” and Hassett to tell the judge later that “it’s very embarrassing.”
–City News Service