In a coordinated operation, FBI agents raided the homes, offices, and vehicles of both the outgoing and incoming Contra Costa County Tax Assessors on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, according to documents obtained by this news organization. The raids, which began around 7:30 a.m., targeted Assessor Vince Kramer and his longtime confidant and successor, Gus Robb, who won the election to replace Kramer with over two-thirds of the vote just last week.
A federal warrant, signed on June 4 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Illman, authorizes agents to search for evidence of wire fraud and "other offenses," though it does not provide further details.
The warrant specifically lists Kramer's 2014 white Ford Taurus and both men's vehicles as targets. County employees at the Arnold Drive office were barred from entering and later told to take the day off.
Neither Kramer nor Robb immediately responded to requests for comment. A neighbor of Kramer reported seeing about a dozen FBI agents at his home early Tuesday.
At Robb's residence, an unidentified man with a beard declined to comment. This is not the first time Kramer has faced legal scrutiny.
In January 2026, the county considered settling a lawsuit accusing him of improperly reducing a property's value by millions and retaliating against an employee who raised concerns. In 2019, a civil grand jury sought his removal for workplace harassment, but he won at trial.
In 2011, the Contra Costa District Attorney investigated land deals tied to Kramer, but the case was dropped; two deputy district attorneys later alleged that then-DA Mark Peterson, who later pleaded guilty to campaign fund theft, killed the probe to protect his friend. Kramer has been assessor since 1994, when he won an election against a deceased opponent, and has portrayed himself as a champion for low property taxes.
In 2010, he amended his financial disclosure statements 33 times after failing to report loans and property interests. Robb, who started as a junior appraiser in 2005 and became assistant county assessor in September 2023, was endorsed by Kramer when he announced his departure last December.
The raid is part of a broader federal investigation into political corruption in the East Bay. Similar raids on then-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and then-San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo led to indictments.
A raid on political consultant Mary Jo Rossi's home did not result in charges against her but led to corruption charges against executives of DeNova Homes. Kramer has complained of being unfairly targeted by politicians and the media, including this news organization's editorial board.
In an email last Thursday, he cited his work lowering property taxes for over 200,000 people during the 2008-2013 downturn and said, "I sleep well at night knowing I was fair and transparent." This is a developing story.