Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

1991

Year Resolved

2000

Lead State

CA

Participating States

Defendant(s)

Donald Sherwin, Brian Hofer, Lisa Vander, Tway Andrews, Joyce Andrews, Brent H. Bebee, Marsha A. Beebe

Offenses

Conspiracy to rig bids, perjury

Sentence Imposed

Indictment dismissed

Case Description

State alleged that Donald Sherwin and Brian Hofer of Santa Barbara’s Valley Foods participated with four other food distribution companies in a bid-rigging scheme which undermined California’s small business preference. The complaint alleged that Sherwin, Hofer and eight co-defendants rigged bids, committed perjury and submitted false evidence to the state. The defendants filed a motion to suppress evidence gathered in a general search, the trial court agreed, and dismissed the indictment as unsupported without such evidence. The Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s decision.