Former SF Plan Checker Sentenced for $40,000 Bribery Scheme

Rodolfo Pada must serve a year and a day in prison for taking bribes to approve building plans.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:15am by Ben Kaplan

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Rodolfo Pada, a former plan checker with San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for accepting $40,000 in bribes to approve building plans. Pada pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a federal anti-corruption probe that led to charges against several other developers and city officials.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing issues with corruption and bribery within San Francisco's municipal government, which has eroded public trust. The sentencing of Pada, a former city employee who abused his position for personal gain, is part of a broader federal investigation into corruption in local construction and development.

The details

Pada admitted to accepting $40,000 in bribes to rubber-stamp building plans over a 14-year period from 2004 to 2018. His assistance in the corruption probe also led to charges against three San Francisco developers and a contractor in Millbrae. Pada continued taking bribes even after leaving the Department of Building Inspection in 2017 to work at a consulting firm that handled inspections for smaller municipalities.

  • Pada pleaded guilty in December 2023.
  • Pada was sentenced on February 28, 2026.

The players

Rodolfo Pada

A former plan checker with San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for accepting $40,000 in bribes.

James Reilly

Pada's attorney who argued for a non-custodial sentence due to Pada's poor health.

David Ward

An Assistant U.S. Attorney who argued Pada deserved a year in prison for betraying his obligations to San Francisco residents.

Alvin Yang

A Millbrae construction builder who pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud for paying Pada $6,800 in bribes and providing other benefits.

Mohammed Nuru

The former San Francisco Public Works chief who was sentenced to seven years in prison on corruption charges, sparking the federal investigation that led to Pada's case.

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What they’re saying

“Public corruption erodes faith in government and victimizes entire communities. We have zero tolerance for public officials who allow greed and self-interest to override their duty to the people they serve.”

— Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney

“Pada's conduct 'put at risk the safety and soundness of buildings, and put residents and others at risk of grave harm,' and also harmed 'honest builders and companies who did not receive favored treatment, and were therefore disadvantaged' by his corruption.”

— David Ward, Assistant U.S. Attorney

What’s next

The federal corruption probe into San Francisco local government is expected to continue, with investigators potentially uncovering additional cases of bribery and misconduct by city officials.

The takeaway

This sentencing underscores the urgent need for greater transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within San Francisco's municipal government to restore public trust and ensure the integrity of the city's construction and development processes.