SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Cyril Yu, a former plan-checker for San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for accepting bribes from local developers in exchange for approving building designs.
U.S. Senior District Judge Susan Illston, a Clinton appointee, handed down the sentence Friday afternoon.
“I think custody is really important because this is public corruption," Illston told Yu. "It undermines the public's confidence in our government."
Yu, wearing a dark gray suit, fought back tears as he addressed Illston before his sentencing.
“From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply sorry for my actions,” he told Illston. He said he took bribes during a “moment of weakness” and that his actions were a lapse in judgment.
“I’m humbly asking for a second chance to be a contributing member of society,” Yu said.
Along with the prison sentence, Yu must complete 50 hours of community service and pay a $20,000 fine. He will also remain on supervised release for two years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ward, who helped prosecute the case, told Illston that Yu had committed egregious corruption. He recommended a prison sentence.
“Every legitimate builder submitting plans is harmed” because of Yu’s conduct, Ward said. “This sullies the reputation of all the people at the Department of Building Inspection.”
Ward said Yu’s conduct put San Franciscans in danger and caused DBI to spend thousands of dollars reviewing permits to see if structures were actually safe. As aggravating factors, he noted that Yu had a stable upbringing and was educated.
“He was living the American dream. He was given the American dream," Ward said. "I think it makes the crime worse. He should have known better."
Yu’s attorney Nghi Lam asked Illston to sentence his client to home confinement. He had cooperated with the federal government, he noted, including by wearing a wire.
“He feels horrible. He wants to do the right thing,” Lam said.
Yu, 41, pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
After being arrested in November, prosecutors accused Yu and another former plan-checker, Rudy Pada, of accepting bribes from developers Siavash Tahbazof and his nephew Bahman Ghassemzadeh, as well as from Reza Khoshnevisan.
All three developers pleaded guilty to fraud charges. Tahbazof and Ghassemzadeh avoided jail time in April when Illston instead sentenced them to three years of probation. She ordered Tahbazof to pay a $75,000 fine and Ghassemzadeh to pay $25,000. Khoshnevisan has yet to be sentenced.
Yu entered his guilty plea at a hearing in March. Had he faced trial, Ward said, prosecutors would have proven that he had on numerous occasions accepted free meals, drinks and cash payments of up to $1,500 from Ghassemzadeh.
Yu’s sentencing is the latest domino to fall in a massive anti-corruption investigation into San Francisco’s city government. The investigation started after former Public Works Chief Mohammed Nuru was arrested in 2020 on corruption charges.
Nuru is serving a seven-year prison sentence, while his co-defendant, restaurateur Nick Bovis, was sentenced to nine months in prison in March. Bernie Curran, a senior inspector with the Department of Building Inspections, pleaded guilty to bribery charges and is currently serving a one-year prison sentence.
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