Commentary: Galvan’s Guilty Plea Caps Years of Misconduct, Reignites Accountability Questions
- Citizens Coalition Admin
- Dec 9, 2025
- 3 min read
The unfolding federal bribery case involving former Compton City Council member Isaac Galvan is yet another sobering reminder of how vulnerable local governments can be to corruption when ethical guardrails fail. According to federal prosecutors, Galvan is expected to plead guilty to participating in a bribery scheme that funneled $70,000 to then–Baldwin Park Councilman Ricardo Pacheco in exchange for marijuana permit approvals.
For many residents in Compton and surrounding cities, this case feels less like breaking news and more like a familiar pattern. Galvan, once elected to represent and advocate for his community, had already left office under the cloud of an election-rigging scandal. The new federal charge reinforces a troubling narrative: that political influence in parts of Southern California has too often been treated like something to buy and sell, rather than a responsibility to serve the public good.
A Scheme That Exploited a New Industry
The legalization of cannabis created a lucrative regulatory landscape—one that should have been managed with transparency and strict oversight. Instead, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, it became fertile ground for pay-to-play schemes.
As Baldwin Park prepared to issue cultivation and manufacturing permits in 2017, Councilman Pacheco allegedly solicited bribes from companies seeking entry into the new industry. Rather than rejecting the misconduct or reporting it, Galvan—who was then serving as a Compton elected official—allegedly joined the scheme, paying a $10,000 bribe to secure favor for a future client and later facilitating tens of thousands more.
When elected officials begin exchanging votes for cash, the legitimacy of the entire permitting process is compromised.
Honest businesses are pushed aside, communities lose faith in their government, and regulatory frameworks meant to ensure safety and fairness become tainted.
A Broader Pattern of Misconduct
The case also underscores how corruption rarely occurs in isolation. One official seeking bribes requires another willing to pay them—and often a third willing to broker the transaction. The indictment depicts a coordinated effort:
Galvan acting as facilitator, Arcadia businessman Yichang Bai supplying the funds, and Pacheco delivering political outcomes.
Pacheco’s prior guilty plea in 2020 and his cooperation with federal investigators suggest that this case is part of a far broader public-corruption probe within the region’s cannabis permitting systems.
Why This Matters for Compton and Every City
For Compton, the implications extend beyond one individual’s misconduct. Public trust in city institutions has already been strained by years of fiscal challenges, service failures, and prior ethical controversies. When a former council member becomes linked to a federal bribery scheme—regardless of whether the conduct occurred inside or outside Compton—residents inevitably question the integrity of the offices designed to serve them.
The Need for Structural Reform
Removing or prosecuting one official does not fix a system that enabled the behavior. Cities must strengthen oversight mechanisms, improve transparency in permitting processes, and ensure that no single elected official can steer lucrative decisions without robust checks, independent audits, and public scrutiny.
Cannabis licensing, in particular, requires stricter regional standards, electronic audit trails, and independent review bodies. Without these reforms, the system remains susceptible to manipulation by those who see public office as a path to personal profit.
Community Concern Over Delayed Accountability
As this case nears resolution, many in the Compton community are openly concerned about the extraordinary length of time it has taken for the courts to conclude the matter. The years-long gap between the alleged misconduct, the investigation, and the forthcoming guilty plea has only deepened frustration. Residents also question how Galvan was able to remain on the City Council for so long while such unacceptable behavior was allegedly occurring in the background.
For a community long demanding transparency, integrity, and responsible leadership, the prolonged timeline has served as yet another painful reminder of why trust in local government remains so fragile. Compton deserves—and continues to insist upon—a standard of leadership where accountability is swift, consequences are real, and public service is treated as a solemn duty, not a personal marketplace.
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