“Housing For Criminals”? Insider Email To Blower Raises Questions About Involvement With Stockton’s Cash For Criminals Program

Emails obtained by 209 Times show that in February 2025, OVP Director Lora Larson contacted corrupt Stockton City Councilmember and real estate agent Michael Blower, regarding OVP’s housing efforts for clients.

In the email, Larson stated:

“At OVP, we take a ‘whatever it takes’ approach to housing our clients, but we need community partners willing to provide second chances.”

The email referenced:

  • Financial assistance for housing
  • Ongoing case management
  • Emergency support for property owners
  • Additional security deposits for rentals

The communication raises questions about the relationship between OVP’s taxpayer-funded housing efforts, which were never approved by tax payers and private property owners connected to elected officials- in particular Blower who works for Fritz Grupe’s real estate company.

209 Times has reached out to city officials regarding:

  • Whether OVP clients were placed into properties connected to elected officials or their business associates
  • Whether any conflicts of interest reviews were conducted
  • Whether surrounding law enforcement agencies were informed when high-risk individuals were relocated outside Stockton city limits
  • What oversight existed regarding OVP’s “whatever it takes” housing strategy

209 Times has requested additional comment from city officials as part of our continued investigation into a de facto “cash for criminals” program that we’ve discovered also included housing at luxury apartments and homes for “individuals suspected or known to be involved in violent crimes” in surrounding cities including Lodi (and possibly Lathrop and Manteca) and Stockton. Some of these individuals are alleged violent gang members connected to the mass shooting in Stockton on November 29, 2025.

Blower and Larson have not responded.

This is a developing story.