A grand jury indicted Ron Galatolo, the former chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District, on Nov. 7 on embezzlement charges.
Galatolo will be arraigned on Nov. 26. He faces 23 felony charges, among other allegations, for securing benefits, gifts, and free construction projects on his properties in exchange for awarding lucrative construction contracts tied to the district’s capital improvement plans. His indictment remains sealed.
The felony counts include tax fraud, misappropriation of public funds, perjury, unreported gifts and conflicts of interest. The charges span a decade, from February 2011 to March 2020.
On Friday, Nov. 15, the college district issued a statement affirming its commitment to transparency and justice.
On Feb. 8, 2023, the college district filed a lawsuit in San Mateo County Superior Court, seeking damages and relief against several construction companies for “fraud, bribery and kickbacks.”
“We believe San Mateo County taxpayers and the community college district are the victims of fraud,” said SMCCCD board President John Pimentel in a press release. “Our civil suit is designed to hold those alleged to be involved in fraudulent acts responsible for their actions.”
In the press release, the district confirmed its full cooperation with the ongoing criminal investigation into Galatolo’s alleged misconduct.
In addition, SMCCCD is actively pursuing a civil lawsuit against construction firms and contractors accused of giving Galatolo, 60, gifts in exchange for district contracts. According to the district, the trial is scheduled to begin on June 23, 2025.
Galatolo’s criminal case has faced many delays. According to the San Mateo Daily Journal, the DA’s Office and Galatolo’s attorney blamed one another for the setbacks.
According to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, some delays have been due to witness availability on the prosecution’s side, but the defense has caused the majority. He noted that Galatolo’s attorney, Chuck Smith, is an experienced lawyer who frequently handles other trials, which has led to several continuances.
Wagstaffe described Galatolo’s assertion that the delays are the fault of the District Attorney’s office as a “false statement,” adding that delays in complex cases often stem from both sides’ scheduling conflicts, which has contributed to the case’s prolonged timeline.
Galatolo remains out of custody on $150,000 bail.
