CalPERS controversy involving Stateline man heats up
By Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
Controversial pension fund placement agent Alfred Villalobos launched a broad defense today against a state lawsuit accusing him of plying CalPERS officials with favors. He also demanded that his assets be unfrozen.
The former CalPERS board member denied several of the allegations contained in a lawsuit filed two weeks ago by Attorney General Jerry Brown, among them that he gave a Lake Tahoe condominium to former CalPERS Chief Executive Fred Buenrostro. In reality, Villalobos said in a court filing, Buenrostro paid him $600,000 for the property.
Brown sued Villalobos, Buenrostro and Villalobos’ firm Arvco Capital of Stateline, Nev., alleging that Villalobos showered Buenrostro and two other CalPERS officials with gifts to influence investment decisions. As a placement agent, Villalobos was working on behalf of private equity firms seeking investment dollars from the pension fund.
