Former assemblyman pleads guilty to BART coffee shop scam

A former state assemblyman pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco Wednesday to money laundering in connection with an investment scheme related to plans for coffee shops at BART stations.

Terrence Goggin, 78, of San Francisco, a former Democratic assemblyman from San Bernardino who later practiced law in San Francisco, entered the plea to one count of money laundering before U.S. District Judge James Donato.

U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Abraham Simmons said Goggin admitted during the plea that in 2013, he diverted $685,000 from coffee shop investors to bank accounts for other ventures and never spent the money on proposed shops at BART’s Civic Center and Balboa Park stations in San Francisco.

Simmons said Goggin agreed to pay at least $685,000 in restitution. Goggin will be sentenced by Donato on April 1 and faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison in addition to a restitution order. He is currently free on bond.

Before seeking the new investments, Goggin had built coffee shops at four other San Francisco and East Bay BART stations, according to a 2018 indictment.

Goggin served in the Assembly from 1974 to 1985. He later practiced law in San Francisco but his license to practice has been suspended for failure to pay State Bar fees, according to the State Bar.

Last modified December 5, 2019 4:49 pm

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