City of Thousand Oaks Building Inspector Charged in Bribery Conspiracy

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced [Wednesday] that Ray Allan Villanueva III (DOB 10/21/66) of Moorpark, and Jimmy Daniel Coronado (DOB 09/12/81) of Oxnard, have been charged with bribery for soliciting a bribe from a contractor in return for a building permit in the City of Thousand Oaks.

Villanueva is a Building Inspector for the City of Thousand Oaks. Both men were arrested [Wednesday] by Investigators with the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation.

“City employees must serve the public honestly, not try to profit from their position,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “When someone is alleged to have abused their authority, it hurts trust in local government, undermines public safety, and shakes our confidence that the permitting process is fair and impartial.”

The state-licensed contractor was retained to complete a residential construction project in the City of Thousand Oaks. The City issued a building permit to the contractor for the project. The contractor hired Coronado to work on the project.

After construction commenced, work was halted pending the contractor’s submission of revised building plans to the City of Thousand Oaks, which required City approval. Coronado is alleged to have approached the contractor and solicited a bribe in return for expediting the approval process.

Coronado allegedly claimed he had a contact in the City who could streamline the approval and permitting process so work could resume on the residential construction project. The contractor declined the solicitation and reported it to the District Attorney’s Office.

The District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit (PIU) thereafter launched an investigation. The PIU investigation revealed that between October and December 2024, Coronado and Villanueva allegedly conspired to solicit a bribe from the contractor.

Villanueva is alleged to have approved a final building inspection in anticipation of receiving a bribe from the contractor, even though the project was unfinished when Villanueva approved the final inspection within the City’s internal permitting system.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Tony Wold, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Unit, is prosecuting the case. Coronado remains in custody with $20,000 bail and a tentative arraignment date of September 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. Villanueva posted $20,000 bail and his arraignment is set for September 24, 2025.