Mr. Seeno died after a brief illness Friday at the age of 84. 2000-01-24 04:00:00 PDT PITTSBURG -- Services will be held tomorrow for Albert Seeno Sr., the son of an immigrant fisherman who became one of the East Bay's most prominent real estate developers. A top sales executive in the Seeno familys home building empire was arrested Monday on suspicion of masterminding a scheme to defraud banks of $150 million and keep the companies afloat during the last housing downturn. In the latest incident, prosecutors say, Albert Seeno Jr. told an employee in March or April of 2001 to drain two ponds at the construction site in Pittsburg to destroy the (frogs) and its habitat, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Oakland. Whittemores attorney declined to comment because of the litigation. Birth 1915 Death 2000 (aged 84-85) Burial. But in 1995, while on a trip to Napa with his wife, Paganetti said he made a discovery that would change the way they operated the Peppermill and their other casino properties forever. A former Seeno employee pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to paying bribes to a mortgage broker to help secure home loans for homebuyers, according to federal prosecutors. Finally, Seeno agreed to sell to another developer. He and Seeno designed a coffee shop to serve the motel units and locals and later bought up a few more acres and built more rooms so they could add slot machines. "I'm not aware of any disciplinary actions involving the Seenos," said Mark Lipparelli, chairman of the Gaming Control Board. "I vouched for him at the time," Paganetti said of Whittemore. Matthias Gafni is a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter for the Bay Area News Group. Starting with a grandfather named Gaetano who helped rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake, the Seeno family has constructed homes and shopping centers throughout the Bay Area and five other states since the 1930s and later added hundreds of acres of property in Northern Nevada to their development plans. Not getting answers to his liking, he launched an investigation that included reviews of 1,000 file boxes, he said. Seeno's plans back in the mid-1980s were even larger -- so large that Clayton fought him every step of the way. In a world where most builders portray themselves as sensitive stewards of the land, nature-lovers who curl up at night with John Muir's journals, A.D. Seeno Construction Co. of Concord reminds me of development's good old bad old days. This parcel is owned by Albert D & Sandra Seeno and can be . The worker texted a photo of what turned out to be Native American remains to the Seeno developments project manager and asked, We dug this out should we call the police?, No, the representative texted back. Albert Jr. bought a one-third interest in February 2007, leaving all three men with equal ownership. In the lawsuits, Albert Seeno Jr., 78, accused his son, Seeno III, of erratic behavior, improper spending, and trying to shut his father and uncle out of their own companies, among other allegations. The various branches of the Seeno family have ongoing construction projects throughout Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg and Antioch. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Antioch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Albert D Seeno 1915 - 2000 Born May 26, 1915 Death January 21, 2000 Last Known Residence Pittsburg, Contra Costa County, California 94565 Summary Albert D Seeno of Pittsburg, Contra Costa County, California was born on May 26, 1915, and died at age 84 years old on January 21, 2000. 9 See similar companies for insight and prospecting. Instead, they operated conservatively and treaded water until things turned around. Thank you for Reading! "They are our greatest asset," he said. Threats of harming another Read More. He never expressed a word of fear before.. Albert Seeno's Phone Number and Email. (Contra Costa Times/Bob Larson)2002, 2002 FILE PHOTO--Albert Seeno III (center)listens during a Pittsburg planning commision meeting in Pittsburg, Calif. on Tuesday, August 13, 2002. After growing a strong and fast friendship with Reno businessmen Bill Paganetti and Nat Carasali in the late 1970s, Albert Jr. and his brother Tom Seeno, now 72, became minority stockholders at the Peppermill Hotel Casino and then added five other Nevada casinos to their list of holdings which added another dimension to their financial endeavors. A major Northern California home developer on Thursday pleaded guilty to bank fraud on behalf of his home sales company and was ordered to pay $11 million for a builder bailout scam that he contends he knew nothing about. Rose was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Two weeks ago, the state of Nebraska did an audit of my books because of an anonymous (complaint) I wasnt collecting tax on our hunts., He showed up in his expensive jet plane with an entourage of thugs, Puckett said. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? A group of eight families who bought homes from Discovery Homes and its Seeno family-related affiliates have sued the builder, claiming the companys sales associates and other representatives deceived them by failing to warn them of an expensive special tax assessment on the Pittsburg homes. . Albert D Seeno Sr. The various branches of the Seeno family have ongoing construction projects throughout Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg and Antioch. They decided to go in together on a restaurant in Denver, and then set their sights on a motel owned by the Hill family along South Virginia Street, Paganetti said. Whittemore claims Albert Seeno, Jr. and his son Albert III began threatening him and his family, even sending thugs to their homes to force open a safe filled with jewelry and breaking into a house to steal computer equipment while Albert III waited in a getaway car. The Seeno family collectively owns companies worth more than $4 billion, and have a net worth of up to $2 billion, according to Whittemore. Do you trust them? Albert Seeno III of the Seeno Companies speaks during a Concord City Council meeting on Saturday, August 21, 2021. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. Shahid devised and managed a scheme to give secret monetary incentives to unqualified homebuyers, allowing the sales of Seeno homes to continue to be sold during the financial crisis starting in 2007, according to the indictment unsealed Monday. Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again. The letters accuse the developer of destroying a seasonal creek and related tributaries and marring the view along the ridgeline on both the Concord and Pittsburg sides of the Los Medanos ridgeline, possibly violating the Pittsburg General Plan and an agreement with Concord not to allow Pittsburg development to be visible from Concord. Contact Matthias Gafni at 925-952-5026. Num. A lawsuit accuses the leaders of a powerful Contra Costa County family of threatening to kill a prominent Nevada lobbyist and friend of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid after a business deal went bad. At the top of the hill, nearly hidden from view, is the sprawling mansion of bigtime developer Albert Seeno III. Destroyed wetlands on the site were also suitable habitat for the California tiger salamander, which is protected by state law, authorities said. Power survey of major builders, check with state and Better Business Bureau records for open construction-defect complaints, check for any quality-control certificates the builder holds, research the builders history of lawsuits, and ask other people how they feel about the builder. Be Proactive. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. (Expletive) you! Seeno III said, hanging up, but not before Shahids new boss heard the exchange, according to a sentencing memorandum filed last week. Num. "I have never met people who were more honest, who had more integrity or who I would rather have on my team than my two partners," Paganetti said during a rare interview, held in a Peppermill conference room. Bustos fell in with some bad characters in the late 1990s, Schreck said, and was arrested in 1997 on drug charges and was convicted in 1999 of selling methamphetamine. Rose Ann Seeno, passed away peacefully at home, at the age of 95. Promotional Rates were found for your code. He said he has been in business with the Seenos for 33 years and has never had an argument or cross word with either brother. n/a. 14 things you need in your car before you drive to Tahoe, 6 Cabo hotels for your spring break vacation, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Regulators levied a $775,000 fine against Albert D. Seeno Jr., and fined his son, Albert D. Seeno III, $25,000. As the housing market exploded in Nevada in 2004, Thomas Seeno, of Alamo, bought half interest in Wingfield Nevada Group, a conglomeration of business enterprises developed by Whittemore valued then at more than $500 million, according to the suit. n/a. One of their most serious legal battles came in 2004 when the Nevada Gaming Control Board filed a 28-count complaint against Seeno Jr. for violating Nevada gaming licensee laws against committing crimes. Seeno Mansion (Clayton, California) USA / California / Clayton / Clayton, California / Eagle Peak Avenue , 1970 Seeno Company never expressed any specific concerns or opposition to the new park during the two-decades-long planning process . Keep it Clean. Checking back? "But this guy was spending $40,000 or $50,000 on parties. But if so, the error goes against a proud company history of barreling ahead regardless. The Gaming Control Board also accused Seeno of violating gaming license rules by associating with convicted felons, including one who was a member of the Hells Angels, which they called "the largest, richest, most sophisticated and best organized and most feared outlaw motorcycle gang in the world.". In October 2012, Seeno's son, David, approached Puckett to see whether he had any bighorn sheep available to hunt. that is degrading to another person. Gaming officials have access to and can take control of all records, including phone and travel, at any time, he said. A human being just doesn't need that kind of extravagance. The Seeno family has sued and been sued countless times. On 03/17/2022 ALBERT D SEENO JR SANDRA L SEENO PCI was filed as a Probate - Trust lawsuit. "Victor had nothing in his background," Schreck said. Albert D. Seeno Jr., left, has sued his son alleging that Albert D. Seeno III, after his appointment in July 2020 as chief executive officer of his father and uncle's businesses, improperly spent money and tried to shut them out from their own companies. They soon added homes and shopping centers. Send tips [email protected]. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Some passing clouds. Mr. The developments came to light in legal documents filed last week by Brad Mamer, the former CEO of Wingfield Nevada Group, who sued the Seenos and other top executives claiming they were involved in racketeering and had violated labor laws regarding his employment. We want Reno to do well as a market. An East Bay Times report about a lawsuit filed against Seeno III by his father Albert Seeno, Jr. seeking to remove his son from his post as CEO of Discovery Builders raised questions of the companys stability. The jurisdiction of this company is CA. Puckett emailed back photos of a 3-year-old ram that would be ready in two years. Despite broad support from local construction unions, Concord Council members Laura Nakamura and Carlyn Obringer joined Mayor Laura Hoffmeister in saying they didnt trust Seeno to develop the sprawling expansion of Concord. Complaint Number: 1: Complaint Type: COMPLAINT: Filing Date: 01/21/2011: Complaint Status: DISMISS W/O PREJ. Concord-based developer Albert Seeno III and Discovery Builders filed a lawsuit alleging the districts proposed Concord Hills Regional Park would negatively affect their planned residential development on an adjacent 606-acre plot. *The dates below reflect when each article was last updated, not when originally published. "It was an emotional time," Seeno said. On Oct. 6, 2015, a Seeno family subcontractor bulldozing land for the new housing development uncovered human remains. Fish and Wildlife Service or the state Department of Fish and Game, the complaint said. Staff Reporter. "People came in in tears. They also object to the size of the two-story homes on a street where one-story homes are the norm. Don't Threaten. In the lawsuits, Albert . Albert and Tom had been fighting for years, and they saw the WNG investment as a way to bring the brothers back together, according to the suit. In 2004, the Seeno brothers were investigated by Gaming Control Board for associating with outlaw bikers and convicted felons. "He loved his tractor," said Enea. The lawsuit paints an unflattering portrait of Albert Seeno Jr. and Albert Seeno IIIwho have operated a Concord-based group of development and contracting companies for decadesand their actions as their Nevada business venture imploded during the housing market collapse. Grantee These people are good businessmen. Save Mount Diablo is a tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. He and Carasali had about eight Peppermill restaurants in the Bay Area, and he used to visit Concord regularly. We appreciate your support. The Seenos attorney paints a different story, saying Whittemore told the Seenos he was broke and could not make his payments toward the companys growing debt. The Clayton "grove" was still present, the new Marsh Creek Bypass was being built and the Keller Barn was still standing before the Library was built a few years later. In an initial complaint filed in August, Albert Seeno Jr., patriarch of the Concord-based building empire known collectively as the Seeno Cos., accused his son, Albert Seeno III, of. (SHERRY LAVARS/TIMES). The suit filed in a Nevada federal court Wednesday, alleging fraud among other things, also names Thomas Seeno, Albert Jr.s brother. Voila! Robison said Mamer was a disgruntled former employee and that assets were transferred to the Seenos from Whittemore voluntarily, to pay back the debt. First, he said that the ponds his company, West Coast Home Builders, destroyed. About Jacqueline Seeno Homes. $37,915. employees. 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Harvey has a little different moral compass than the rest of us.". until now, after the land use plan has been approved., Powerful East Bay Developers Accused of Extortion, Theft, Threats, Seeno Construction Accused Of Destroying Pittsburg Creek, FBI, IRS, Secret Service Raid Seeno Family Development Offices, Call in Pittsburg to Stop Seeno/ Developer at Center of City Elections, Killing of Endangered Frog Brings Charges / Builder Accused of Draining Ponds, Developer Gets $300 Fine for Destroying Trees, Seeno Firm to Pay $3 Million for Destruction of Habitat in Antioch, Developer a Throwback to Old Days / Al Seeno Has History of Bulldozing Plans Through, Seenos Sued Again in Nevada for Creating Intolerable Working Conditions, Seeno Company Linked to Suspected Southern California Mortgage Fraud Ring, Criminal Complaint Alleging Seeno Company Involved in Kickback Scheme, Seeno Company Accused of Destroying Owl Habitat, Another Former Seeno Employee Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Help Feds, Pittsburg Homeowners Sue Seeno Company Alleging Questionable Sales Tactics, Seeno Family Casino Chain Fined $1 Million over Slot Machine Shenanigans. It had golf, fine dining, entertainment and a spa, as well as slots, he said. In 2018, a Seeno family subcontractor bulldozing land for new housing development on a Patwin tribe burial ground uncovered human remains. They started "in the days when you could build a house in the Bay Area for $39,000," Seeno said. Whittemore said that more than five times between September 2010 and January 2011 the Seenos directed employees to go to his homes to intimidate him and his family into giving them assets including jewelry, art, furs, wine and cars in lieu of debt payments. Total expenses. Total assets. Low around 35F. $8,815. Sophocles needs a seven!"). I don't know if they were bathing in it or what. Not good, at least not for the top-floor tenants. Shahid agreed that the losses that resulted from foreclosures or short sales on these homes were approximately $75 million; Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which purchased mortgage loans used to pay for . He wanted to tear it down and build a larger one, but city leaders saw the land as a key piece of its downtown redevelopment district. 2020. Federal agents raided the headquarters of the Seeno family development empire Thursday, hauling out stacks of documents from two office buildings at the heart of a 70-year-old home-building dynasty that has shaped much of East Bay suburbia. We (expletive) everyone!. I call this the spite mansion -- because, as is often the case with our. We think they were spraying chemicals to kill wildlife, said Jones wife, Vicci Stillwell. meria .kg (in Kyrgyz and Russian) Bishkek ( Kyrgyz: ), IPA: [bikek] ), formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. A lawsuit accused Albert Seeno, Jr. and Albert Seeno III of threatening to kill lobbyist Harvey Whittemore after a business deal went bad. The couple documented the removal in before-and-after pictures shared with this newspaper, along with photographs showing owls on the property and inside the habitat. Stillwell and Jones said they awoke at 7:45 a.m. on Jan. 31 to the noise of workers removing the boards, and watched two barn owls fly out of the windmill and take refuge in a nearby tree. 14 things you need in your car before you drive to Tahoe, 6 Cabo hotels for your spring break vacation, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). The act was discovered when police stopped two trucks leaving the site at night. ", Albert Seeno added: "We have a very successful operation in Nevada. Updated: November 11, 2011 Biography ID: 85367528 The project has the potential to be the citys greatest asset or biggest mistake. The amphibian was immortalized by Mark Twain in the short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.. High around 55F. 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