In Your Town for July 19, 2024

NOVATO

Defendant sentenced
for business schemes

A Novato resident was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison after being convicted of several business schemes that involved wire fraud, kickbacks, and other offenses.

Geoffrey Palermo, 60, pleaded guilty in March to charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making a false statement to a bank, and willfully failing to collect taxes.

Palermo is a former manager of Hilton’s downtown San Francisco hotel, where he admitted that he collaborated with a contractor in a kickback scheme that deprived the hotel’s owners of more than $1.8 million, which went to him. Investigators said that he approved falsely inflated invoices for construction projects at the hotel, and had the owners pay more than $6.4 million to the contractor over three years.

The contractor, identified as 56-year-old Placer County resident Adan Roldan, was convicted of wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 12.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that after Palermo left Hilton he owned and managed the GMP Cars auto repair business. Authorities said that he made false statements on applications in order to secure $5 million in Small Business Administration loans.

Palermo has been detained since June 2023, authorities said.

Class reunion set
for San Marin High

San Marin High School alumni are planning a 50th class reunion.

Festivities will be held Sept. 20 and 21. For information on the events planned, email sanmarin1974@yahoo.com

TIBURON

Parks board
fills top spots

Chuck Hornbrook was unanimously appointed chair of the Tiburon Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission at a meeting Tuesday.

Commissioner Michael Moon was appointed vice chair, taking over Hornbrook’s previous role.

Both commissioners’ terms end in July 2025.

THE LEGISLATURE

Connolly tapped for
environmental panel

Assemblymember Damon Connolly has been appointed to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

The committee’s work focuses on energy, air quality and coastal and forestry management. Members are responsible for overseeing adherence to the California Environmental Quality Act.

“As a member of this committee, I am committed to advocating for sustainable practices of environmental stewardship to help ensure that our policies align with California’s clean energy goals and environmental resilience,” Connolly said in an announcement about the June appointment.

Connolly, who is chairperson of the Assembly Select Committee on Wildfire Prevention, is also vice chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies and a member of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials.

Elected to the Legislature in 2022, his first bill, Assembly Bill 1790, which aims for better protections against sexual harassment in the California State University system, was signed into law on July 15.

Connolly is a San Rafael Democrat.