FBI raids Contra Costa County tax assessor's office

Key Points:

• FBI agents executed three search warrants in Contra Costa County at the tax assessor's office and the homes of current assessor Gus Kramer and assistant assessor Vince Robb, citing allegations of wire fraud and other offenses.
• The warrants were served at 2530 Arnold Drive in Martinez (tax assessor's office), a residence on Temple Drive in Pacheco (Robb's home), and a residence on West Arlington Street in Martinez (Kramer's home).
• Kramer criticized the FBI action as intimidation and said the office would have cooperated if asked politely, while Robb expressed distress over his children being handcuffed during the search and denied any wrongdoing.
• Kramer has faced prior allegations, including a 2019 grand jury accusation of misconduct related to a hostile work environment, but was never charged or removed from office; he plans to retire in December after 32 years.
• Robb, endorsed by Kramer and recently elected with 68% of the vote, is set to become the new county assessor in January after serving 20 years in the office.