Trial to Begin in Felony Bribery Case Involving Jimmy Daniel Coronado and City Building Inspector Ray Allen Villanueva III

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Local prosecutors announced that felony charges against Ray Allen Villanueva III and Jimmy Daniel Coronado for allegedly soliciting a bribe for a Thousand Oaks building permit can proceed to trial.

Both men are set to face one felony count of bribery, are both out of custody on $20,000 bail, and are currently scheduled to be arraigned on their respective felonies on August 13 of this year added the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

In 2024, a state-licensed contractor was tasked with completing a residential construction project in Thousand Oaks, but after construction commenced, the City of Thousand Oaks halted the work until the contractor submit a revised building plan approved by the city detailed the local prosecutor's office.

Coronado was hired to work for the contractor on the project and allegedly solicited a bribe from his employer in return for speeding up the approval process by the City of Thousand Oaks noted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

The 45-year-old Oxnard man claimed he had a contact within the city's government who could streamline the approval and permitting processes explained the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

The contractor declined the opportunity and instead, reported it to the District Attorney's Office which started an investigation by their Public Integrity Unit (PIU) stated the prosecutor's office.

A PIU investigation revealed that between October and December of 2024, Coronado and 60-year-old building inspector for the City of Thousand Oaks Ray Allen Villanueva III allegedly conspired to solicit a bribe from the contractor detailed the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Villanueva is alleged to have approved a final building inspection in the city's internal permitting system before the project was completed in anticipation of a bribe explained the local prosecutor's office.

The duo were arrested on September 10, 2025, by investigators with the District Attorney's Office.