CHULA VISTA, Calif. — A former Chula Vista councilmember who admitted to lying to the government to obtain thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits and pandemic relief funds was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay restitution.
In February, Andrea Cardenas, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft.
During the hearing, Cardenas tearfully apologized to the community and her family.
"There's no justification, no excuse for the mistakes I made," she said.
She said the last ten months have been the most difficult of her life. She said she has received hate mail, social media threats, and she's been yelled at on the street.
"In reality my punishment, it started months ago," she said.
Her sentencing comes five months after her brother, Jesus Cardenas, was sentenced to 45 days in a residential halfway house and two years probation. He was also ordered to pay restitution.
Meanwhile, a state investigation is underway by the California Fair Political Practices Commission into a political action committee with ties to Andrea Cardenas.
A spokesperson for the commission couldn't speak specifically about the Cardenas case but told CBS 8, in general terms, if its determined someone committed violations, there's a potential to be fined thousands of dollars.
Cardenas, 32, and her brother, Jesus Cardenas, admitted to fraudulently obtaining a $176,227 Paycheck Protection Program loan in early 2021 intended for their political consulting firm, Grassroots Resources. The money was meant to support payroll for 34 employees, most of whom actually worked for a marijuana dispensary that was a Grassroots client.
The pair then used the funds on personal expenses, including a $33,500 check to Andrea Cardenas' Chula Vista City Council campaign account and $21,000 that Jesus Cardenas owed American Express, prosecutors said.
Additional charges were added later for taking funds from the state Employment Development Department while both were employed.
As part of their pleas, six other felony counts of conspiracy, money laundering and failing to file tax returns were dismissed.
Andrea Cardenas resigned from the City Council shortly before pleading guilty. About a year prior to the guilty pleas, Jesus Cardenas resigned his post as chief of staff to San Diego Councilman Stephen Whitburn as questions swirled over Grassroots' PPP loan and whether Cardenas' dual role with Grassroots and the city presented a conflict of interest.
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