Brando Villapudua Caught Directing City Money To Business Partners Sharing Address of His Disputed Residency

If there’s two things the public can count on coming out of Stockton’s city hall it’s circus level drama, and corruption from Brando Villapudua. Records obtained by 209 Times show Councilmember Villapudua directed public funds to Higher Mindset, a nonprofit tied to the same address connected to his political consulting business and his disputed District 5 residency.

Records list Higher Mindset at Cushion Cap Drive, which is owned by Nicole Romo who is also listed as the owner of BV Consulting (BV stands for Brando Villapudua) with Brando listed as the “president.” Simultaneously Romo is also the CEO of Higher Mindset.

The address being used is the one alleged to be where Brando is lying about living while serving on the city council, for which he also voted to give himself a 30% raise.

State records also identify known embezzler Xochitl Paderes as Higher Mindset’s Secretary and Agent for Service of Process. She was also Brando’s campaign consultant who was terminated by the State Assembly as the district director for Carlos Villapudua, Brando’s corrupt brother.

Recently the City Council removed Jason Lee from the Audit Committee for multiple concerns under the leadership of Mayor Christina Fugazi who said the action reflected “good governance” and “accountability.”

However, despite being notified of this new evidence against Brando, Fugazi is notably silent.

The new evidence raises serious questions about a situation the appearance Brando is using tax payer funds to pay off a business partner who allegedly let him illegally use her address to collect thousands of tax dollars as a City Councilmember.

Of special concern is the fact that the IRS recently revoked Higher Mindset’s status as a 501c3, which happens when the organization doesn’t submit financial records for 3 years.

Fliers show that both Brando and Nikki were collecting money for that “nonprofit’s” fundraising events.

Should there be an independent investigation into Brando directing public money to his private business partners?