UMVA has learned that a shocking wave of federal investigations has crashed down on the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office, with FBI agents executing three federal search warrants on Tuesday morning.
The unprecedented raids targeted the offices of longtime County Assessor Gus Kramer and his right-hand man, Assistant Assessor Vince Robb, as well as Kramer’s home, in what appears to be one of the largest public corruption investigations to hit California’s East Bay in years.
Federal agents swarmed the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office in Martinez, descending on residences connected to Kramer and Robb, who was recently elected to replace Kramer, in a stunning display of investigative fervor.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that investigators have been seeking evidence related to wire fraud and other potential offenses, though no criminal charges have been filed yet in this explosive case.
The Assessor’s Office plays a critical role in property valuations across approximately 380,000 parcels of land, a massive operation that directly determines tax bills for hundreds of thousands of homeowners, businesses, and property owners across the county.
Kramer, embroiled in controversy, told reporters that the investigation centered on the assessed value of properties in the county, suggesting that low-level officials were attempting to “weaponize” the FBI to intimidate the Assessor’s Office.
Kramer claimed that he would have cooperated fully with investigators if they had simply asked, saying, “I used to work for the Sheriff’s Office. I understand what [the FBI agents] are doing, but all they had to do was come in the office and ask for it politely, and we would’ve given them everything they wanted.”
However, Kramer’s history is marred by serious accusations, including a 2009 settlement of nearly $1 million to a worker who claimed he retaliated against her after she accused him of sexual harassment.
In 2019, a Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury filed a rare formal accusation of “willful or corrupt misconduct” against Kramer, alleging unwanted sexual remarks and racial disparagement, which led to a mistrial.
Kramer has long faced allegations of using his office for personal revenge and inside dealing, including accusations of improperly raising property tax assessments and using his position to acquire properties at discounted rates.
A former appraiser in his office, Andrea Albrecht, claimed Kramer directed staff to improperly lower the value of a senior-housing complex by at least $3 million, leading to a lawsuit that was settled in January 2026.
The mounting evidence against Kramer and the Assessor’s Office raises critical questions about the extent of corruption and abuse of power in one of California’s most influential local governments.
