Federal agents executed search warrants at the Contra Costa County Assessor's Office in Martinez and at two East Bay homes today, according to authorities. The searches landed just days after a longtime county employee was elected to replace the retiring assessor, instantly raising pointed questions about the powerful tax office. As of publication, no charges had been announced, and the FBI declined to say whether either official tied to the locations was a target of the investigation.
Searches Hit Assessor's Office and Two Homes
FBI agents served three federal search warrants at the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office in Martinez, at a residence on West Arlington Street in Martinez, and at a home on Temple Drive in nearby Pacheco, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The locations are connected to outgoing Assessor Gus Kramer and Assistant Assessor Vince Robb, according to the Chronicle.
A copy of one warrant, described by the Chronicle as coming from reporting by the Mercury News, shows agents were searching for evidence of wire fraud and other offenses, and that the warrant was signed on June 4 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Illman.
What the Assessor's Office Oversees
According to Contra Costa County, the Assessor’s Office determines taxable property values that help set property tax bills and revenue for roughly 1.1 million residents. County records list the office on Arnold Drive in Martinez and identify the assessor and assistant assessor by name, underscoring the office's central role in local government finances.
Troubled Tenure and Prior Scrutiny
Gus Kramer has held the elected assessor post since 1994 and announced earlier this year that he would not seek another term. His long run has not been without turbulence. In 2019, a county civil grand jury accused him of misconduct and of creating a hostile work environment, allegations Kramer denied, according to Danville San Ramon.
Election Aftermath
Assistant Assessor Vince Robb won last Tuesday's election for county assessor with more than two-thirds of the vote, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Robb is set to replace Kramer, and county employees say the office must keep processing assessments and appeals while the federal inquiries play out in the background.
What Happens Next
The FBI has not released details about whether anything was seized in the searches and has not announced any charges. Federal investigations often unfold over weeks or months before prosecutors decide whether to file a case. Search warrants show that investigators obtained court approval to search specific locations, but they do not amount to accusations of guilt.
County officials say they are cooperating with federal inquiries and that normal assessor operations will continue, even as the office finds itself under a spotlight during a leadership transition.
