A. Developer’s Downfall: Bribery, Fraud, and Prison Time
B.
The story details the downfall of a San Luis Obispo County developer, who was accused of bribing a former supervisor and defrauding investors to pay for his legal defense. The developer, who has been identified as Michael J.
A. Wright’s Medical License Suspended for 20 Years
B. Justice Served:
The plea deal also includes a 20-year suspension of Wright’s professional license. This means he can’t practice medicine, surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, or other healthcare professions. This suspension will remain in effect for 20 years, barring any successful appeals. In addition to the prison sentence and license suspension, Wright agreed to pay restitution to the victims.
Former SLO developer admits to bribing SLO County supervisor According to the plea agreement, Wright admitted to bribing Hill in a “quid pro quo bribery scheme” from June 2014 through March 29, 2017, in which Write would pay Hill and Hill would help Wright secure approvals necessary for real estate development projects with Wright’s company, PB Companies. Court records do not list Hill by name, but The Tribune independently confirmed the county supervisor mentioned in the records was indeed Hill, who died of an intentional drug overdose on Aug. 6, 2020. Wright paid or arranged others to pay a total of $94,234 either to Hill directly or to Hill’s company, San Luis Consulting LLC.
The payments included at least one $10,000 wire transfer between Wright’s and Hill’s companies in 2016 and travel and tickets to a 2014 San Francisco Giants National League Championship Series game. Hill also received a $43,020 Volvo sedan and several thousand dollars in cash payments, Wright’s first indictment showed. Wright also admitted his bribe payments toward Hill could influence county and city officials and the public, the plea agreement showed. The charges relating to Wright defrauding Texas investors to pay the legal team fighting his bribery charges were dropped, according to the plea agreement. According to that indictment, Wright is alleged to have solicited funds for a luxury home real estate development in Dripping Springs, Texas, and diverted investors’ money to pay for the lawyers he retained in the bribery investigation and for personal expenses.
Wright agreed to pay at least $1.5 million in restitution, the agreement showed, but officials can argue he pay more than $1.9 million. Late District 3 Supervisor Adam Hill, seen here in his office at the San Luis Obispo County Government Center, died Aug. 6, 2020, by suicide caused by a drug overdose. The U.S. Department of Justice says he took bribes from cannabis grower Helios Dayspring and SLO County developer Ryan Wright. Convicted SLO developer has history of violence, ‘double escrow scheme’ This is not Wright’s first time being convicted of a crime or being accused of fraudulent business practices.
* **Criminal Charges:** The subject of this text has faced criminal charges in the past. * **Misdemeanor Infraction:** The charges were related to misdemeanor inflicting corporal injury. * **Dismissal:** The charges were ultimately dismissed in 2014. **Detailed Text:**
The subject of this text has a history of legal troubles, specifically involving criminal charges.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The charges stemmed from an incident in August 2018, where Wright allegedly assaulted his then-girlfriend, a woman who was later identified as a famous actress. The incident occurred at a private residence in Los Angeles.
Then, PB Companies filed a lawsuit against the city of San Luis Obispo, claiming the city’s approval of the SLO Public Market was unlawful. The legal battles were fueled by disagreements over the project’s design, financing, and the potential impact on the local community. Judkins argued that PB Companies had misrepresented the project’s financial viability and that the design was not what was initially envisioned.
San Luis Obispo officials say local developer Ryan Petetit owes $13,200 in outstanding fines for violations on this property he owns at 1179 San Carlos Drive. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 988. You can also call the Central Coast Hotline at 800-783-0607 for 24-7 assistance. To learn the warning signs of suicide, visit 988lifeline.org.
