209 Times EXCLUSIVE Leaked OVP Documents Raise Major Transparency Questions

By Frank Gayaldo

Documents obtained by 209 Times from a whistleblower and records request raise new questions about records associated with Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention.

One internal memorandum signed by OVP Director Lora Larson describes emergency relocation services provided to a program participant identified internally as “an influential gang member actively engaged with OVP for the past six months.”

The memo states the individual and their family were placed in emergency shelter after social media posts allegedly incited violence against the client. According to the document, meals were purchased daily.

Other records have shown tax payer dollars being spent on trips and gift cards, causing concerns that tax subsidized “cash for criminals” operation was being conducted without tax payer knowledge or approval.

Separate internal emails obtained by 209 Times show Larson expressing concerns about releasing certain records under the California Public Records Act.

In one email, Larson wrote that after the public release of general program information, staff received calls from clients:

“questioning whether their locations were being disclosed to law enforcement or on social media.”

Larson argued that releasing more detailed records could increase “anxiety among clients and potentially expose sensitive information tied to relocation efforts.” even though such information was never requested.

The internal memo describing emergency relocation services to an “influential gang member” was not produced in response to public records requests and was instead provided to 209 Times by a whistleblower.

The hat prompted our investigation was and remains a concern that tax payer dollars may have been used in the crimes of disgraced former “OVP Community Outreach Coordinator” Sonja Lek aka Koz, who was arrested for heinous crimes. We are also concerned that City of Stockton officials may have known and never warned the public.

209 Times has redacted identifying information related to program participants from the documents.

Additional reporting is forthcoming.