Criminal charges will not be filed against the San Diego Association of Governments or its employees following the conclusion of a federal Department of Justice investigation.
The development was announced Friday.
In a statement, SANDAG did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation, other than to state “it focused on the contracting activities of SANDAG, and whether those activities had violated federal law.”
Officials further stated they were “not provided with complete information about the nature and scope of the investigation.”
DOJ officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
While SANDAG was recently scrutinized for its toll collection practices, prompting a lawsuit alleging drivers on state Route 125 were overcharged, it’s uncertain whether that was the focus of the investigation.
In its Friday statement, SANDAG said it was taking measures to bolster its internal operations and improve its business practices.
“Consistent with previous findings by agency management, the Office of the Independent Performance Auditor, and other external audits, substantive improvements are being made to strengthen policies and internal controls, deploy tools and training, and create consistent business practices across the agency,” SANDAG said.
The measures, officials said, will help ensure that procurement practices “are fair and competitive,” staff are adequately trained and that consultant resources are managed “in line with contract terms and conditions and established budgets.”
