State Sen. Ronald Calderon, brother indicted in corruption scandal

State Sen. Ronald S. Calderon and his brother, Tom, have been indicted on public corruption charges, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office confirmed Friday.

The indictments stem from a corruption investigation into southeast Los Angeles politics that has centered on the Calderon family.

The U.S. attorney’s office did not elaborate on the specific charges, but in a court document sent to The Times, said FBI agents confronted Ronald Calderon during a meeting in Las Vegas in May 2012, after which he agreed to wear a “wire� as part of the investigation.

The U.S. attorney’s office has scheduled a noon news conference that it said would deal with “charges being filed in a political corruption matter and a case involving a massive healthcare fraud scheme.�

A law enforcement source with knowledge of the case said the announcement will involve the yearlong investigation into Calderon (D-Montebello).

GRAPHIC: Calderon family connections

An affidavit obtained last year by Al Jazeera America includes allegations that Ronald Calderon accepted $88,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent and a businessman to affect legislation to extend film-industry tax credits and to change workers’ compensation laws.

The document also said there was also probable cause to believe that Ronald Calderon “participated in a separate bribery scheme with Michael D. Drobot,� the chief executive officer of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach. The lawmaker allegedly accepted $28,000 from Drobot in exchange for “supporting legislation that would delay or limit changes in California’s workers’ compensation laws,� the affidavit said.

The Times has also reported that the FBI investigation has looked into the Central Basin Municipal Water District, where Calderon’s brother Tom worked as a consultant.

Both Calderons have denied wrongdoing.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to provide specifics about the charges but said several people faced criminal charges in the matter.