FBI agents searched Lancaster City Hall and the homes of two city officials Tuesday as part of a long-running federal corruption investigation into the city’s government, according to the Los Angeles Times.

What happened

Agents seized documents from the city hall building while simultaneously executing search warrants at the residences of the vice mayor and one city council member, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing law enforcement sources. No charges have been filed against either official.

The FBI has not disclosed what specific conduct investigators are examining. The bureau typically does not comment on active investigations.

Background

The searches are part of an investigation that has been underway for several years, according to the Times. Federal prosecutors are believed to be examining financial decisions and city contracts, the newspaper reported.

Lancaster is a city of approximately 175,000 people in the Antelope Valley desert region of northern Los Angeles County, about 70 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

Prior federal cases in LA County

FBI corruption investigations have reached other Los Angeles County municipalities before. In 2020, agents searched Los Angeles City Hall as part of a case against then-City Councilman José Huizar, who was charged with racketeering and bribery. Huizar was sentenced in 2024 to 13 years in federal prison.

What comes next

Search warrants do not constitute charges. Federal investigations of this scale typically take months or years to produce indictments. Lancaster’s city council had not issued a public statement as of the time of publication. The FBI declined to comment.