Home » Ex-Riverside Sheriff Lt. Flores, Others Sentenced for Bribery Scam

Ex-Riverside Sheriff Lt. Flores, Others Sentenced for Bribery Scam

Towing kickback scheme led to probation, short jail terms

by Sophia Bennett

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A former Riverside County sheriff’s lieutenant, sergeant, and a tow truck company owner have been sentenced to probation for their roles in a bribery scheme that directed lucrative towing business to one company in exchange for personal benefits.

Samuel Flores, a former sheriff’s lieutenant, Robert Martin Christolon, a former sergeant, and Cody Close, the owner of TJ’s Towing in Temecula, were sentenced Tuesday at the Riverside Hall of Justice. All three were placed on two years of probation following convictions last year. The charges stemmed from a scheme that defrauded local residents and manipulated the county’s tow rotation system.

Judge Jerry Yang sentenced Flores to nine months and Close to four months in county jail. However, due to jail overcrowding, their actual time behind bars is expected to be minimal. Christolon received a six-month sentence in a sheriff’s work release program, which requires employment, education, or community service.

A fourth defendant, retired Deputy Kevin Alton Carpenter, had earlier pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years’ felony probation in 2023.

Inside the Bribery Scheme
Court documents reveal that Carpenter, known for his aggressive and often unwarranted vehicle impounds, began coordinating with Close after Flores took supervisory control of the Temecula Traffic Bureau in 2017. Carpenter would routinely bypass reporting procedures, hiding impound records and steering calls exclusively to TJ’s Towing — regardless of the sheriff’s official rotation list.

The relationship between Flores and Close deepened after Close helped him acquire a classic truck. Flores received numerous perks: steep discounts on vehicles, free towing for personal cars, tickets to events, limousine rides, and even a free stay at a $4 million Oceanside home owned by Close’s mother. Texts between Flores and Close included messages like “make that money, homie,” confirming the close coordination.

Meanwhile, Christolon turned a blind eye when deputies complained that Carpenter was monopolizing overtime shifts and impounding cars without cause. In one instance, Christolon bought a Honda Civic for just $200 — a vehicle that had $3,290 in associated fees — thanks to Close’s facilitation.

Despite not being on the approved list, TJ’s Towing continued receiving impound calls even after Flores and Christolon transferred to the Jurupa Valley station in 2019. Carpenter, who had retired and joined the company, continued involvement until an internal investigation exposed the misconduct.

The Fallout
The scheme was uncovered in mid-2019 and culminated in a 2020 indictment of all four individuals. Prosecutors emphasized the misuse of public trust and the financial harm to county residents, who unknowingly bore the cost of the unnecessary impounds.

The probation sentences mark the end of a years-long investigation but leave open questions about restitution and accountability for the affected vehicle owners.

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