Former Upland Mayor Indicted On Federal Corruption, Bribery Charges

Former Upland Mayor John Pomierski and one of his appointees to a municipal appeals board face corruption charges for demanding bribes from businesses for preferential treatment.

The 11-count indictment handed down on in Riverside on Wednesday accuses Pomierski, 56, and John Hennes, 54, of orchestrating an extortion scheme targeting two Upland businesses, which ended up paying a total of $45,000 in bribes.

According to the indictment, Pomierski demanded and received money from one business owner twice in exchange for “fast-tracking” building permits needed to move forward with construction. Each time, the owner was asked for $25,000, and told to “disguise” the payments to keep the process secret. That business ended up paying only $35,000 of the money demanded.

In another case, Pomierksi was accused of demanding $20,000 from a business that the City of Upland was taking legal action against. The business owner complied, and, Hennes received $10,000 of the payment, according to the indictment.

“The public can and should expect honesty and integrity from public officials; standards by which the mayor failed to abide,” said United States Attorney Andr Birotte Jr. “The allegations against Pomierski indicate that he intended to enrich himself by engaging in conduct that tarnishes all public officials.”

Pomierski and Hennes were both charged in the indictment with conspiracy and extortion. Pomierski was also charged with accepting bribes. Hennes was charged with making false statements to the FBI.

If convicted on all charges, Pomierski faces a maximum sentence of 145 years in federal prison, and Hennes faces a maximum sentence of 50 years.