California Attorney General Sues Over Alleged $3.8 Million Charity Concession Fraud at Two San Diego Stadiums

State civil case follows federal guilty pleas tied to Petco Park and Snapdragon Stadium concessions

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit alleging a yearslong scheme that diverted about $3.8 million intended for charitable purposes through concession operations at San Diego sports venues, including Petco Park and Snapdragon Stadium. The civil action centers on allegations that individuals presented themselves as operating on behalf of a legitimate youth-softball charity, then kept the proceeds rather than using them for charitable programming.

The lawsuit arrives as the same conduct has already produced criminal admissions in federal court. Two San Diego County men, Noly Hermoso Ilarde and Martin Jose Rebollo Jr., have pleaded guilty to a wire-fraud conspiracy connected to the operation of concession stands at the venues. Federal filings describe how the men used the name of “Chula Vista Fast Pitch,” described in court documents as a defunct nonprofit, to obtain access to stadium concession opportunities that are often offered to charitable organizations as a way to raise funds.

Federal court records describe a “sham charity” that collected millions through venue concession arrangements while providing no charitable benefit.

How the money moved through venue concession arrangements

In the federal case, prosecutors outlined two principal revenue streams tied to venue concession managers. The fake charity received roughly $3.5 million from Delaware North, the concessions manager at Petco Park, and more than $250,000 from Aztec Shops, the nonprofit auxiliary organization responsible for concessions at Snapdragon Stadium. The combined amount aligns with the approximately $3.8 million referenced in the state lawsuit announcement.

Federal admissions also describe how the operation relied on paid labor while representing workers as volunteers affiliated with a charitable cause. Court documents state that individuals staffing events were paid cash—about $50 per event—while the remaining proceeds were split by those running the operation. Rebollo separately pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return related to the proceeds, and the federal case also included a Social Security fraud component.

What the state is seeking and why civil enforcement matters

The attorney general’s lawsuit is aimed at civil remedies that differ from criminal sentencing, including restitution, penalties and court orders designed to prevent similar conduct. California law grants the attorney general broad authority to police charitable fundraising and the misuse of assets held for charitable purposes, including cases involving deceptive solicitations or the diversion of funds intended for nonprofit missions.

• Recovering money alleged to have been diverted from charitable use
• Imposing civil penalties tied to unlawful business practices
• Obtaining injunctive relief to block future fundraising or related conduct

The allegations also spotlight a structural vulnerability in stadium “charity concession” models: venues and concession operators may rely on paperwork and representations when granting access to high-traffic events. The state’s action signals heightened scrutiny of how organizations are vetted and how revenues are tracked when charitable status is central to participation.

Federal proceedings remain ongoing for sentencing, while the attorney general’s civil case will proceed on a separate track in state court. Together, the cases outline a coordinated enforcement effort that seeks both punishment for admitted criminal conduct and financial recovery tied to the alleged misuse of charitable fundraising opportunities at major San Diego sports venues.