FBI Raids LADWP Offices In Downtown LA

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – FBI agents served search warrants at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offices in downtown L.A. Monday morning.

Agents served the warrants before 10 a.m. at two different locations: the LADWP headquarters at 111 N Hope St., as well as City Hall. Video footage showed at least three agents entering the LADWP building.

An FBI spokesperson confirmed to CBS2 that agents were serving the search warrants under a sealed affidavit and would not comment on the nature of the investigation.

No arrests were planned, the FBI said.

"The affidavit in support of the search warrant has been sealed by the court and so I am prohibited from commenting on the nature of the investigation," the spokesperson said.

LADWP is the largest municipal utility in the U.S., serving more than four million residents.

Last November, the FBI raided L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar's office and home as part of its investigation into possible bribery, extortion and money laundering at L.A. City Hall focusing on huge real estate investments from Chinese companies.

It's unclear if Monday's raids are linked to that case. Huizar has yet to be charged. He has also not resigned. He remains on the city council until his term expires in 2020.

In May, in response to the Huizar investigation, the city council began moving forward an ordinance which would ban candidates running for city elected office from receiving political campaign contributions from real estate developers.

In August of 2015, LADWP reached a $44 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit accusing the agency of over-billing as a result of problematic initiation of a new billing system.

CBS2 received the following statement from LADWP regarding the raid.

"Earlier this morning at approximately 9:25 AM, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant at the John Ferraro Building and Figueroa Plaza in connection with a federal investigation. We are fully cooperating with authorities and at this time are unable to comment further."