By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer
Federal and state agents closed three Sacramento grocery stores owned by City Councilperson Sean Loloee during an apparent raid Thursday.
The three Viva Supermarkets – located on Marysville Boulevard and Norwood Avenue in Sacramento and on Folsom Boulevard in Rancho Cordova – all had signs on the door that read “Sorry, temporarily closed.” Officers from several law enforcement agencies were seen inside and behind the buildings.
“Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigations, and the State of California Department of Justice are conducting a court-authorized criminal law enforcement activities at several locations in the Sacramento area,” said Denise Hauser, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. “To protect all parties involved in this activity, that’s all we can share at this moment.”
No arrests have been made.
The U.S. Department of Labor last year sued Loloee for several labor violations related to Viva. The government alleged that Loloee threatened to deport employees who cooperated with an investigation into his grocery stores, underpaid employees and employed minors in hazardous occupations.
In 2020, the federal government ordered him to pay $35,423 in back wages, which he did, the complaint said. However, the lawsuit alleges he later coerced employees to return the back wages.
In 2009, investigators determined that Loloee violated federal laws regarding overtime pay, minimum wage and child labor, according to the lawsuit.
Also last year, Mayor Darrell Steinberg and District 2 residents requested an investigation into where Loloee lived. An investigation found that he met the legal residency requirements and lives in the district he represents.
The City of Sacramento directed all media requests to the Department of Homeland Security.
Loloee’s attorney, Cassandra Ferrannini, declined to comment. So did the California Department of Justice.
This is a developing story.