Former San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos agrees to a six-month suspension after admitting he destroyed key evidence in the Colonies corruption litigation
Michael Ramos State Bar suspension (Courtesy Wikipedia)Los Angeles, California (Times Media Service) – Former San Bernardino District Attorney Michael Ramos has accepted a six-month suspension from practicing law in California after admitting he destroyed emails and texts that should have been produced during discovery in the high-profile Colonies corruption case.
Background of the Colonies Corruption Case
In 2011, Ramos led a prosecution alleging that three county supervisors and a developer conspired in a $102 million bribery scheme related to a land dispute with Colonies Partners.² After an eight-month trial, a jury acquitted three defendants in September 2017, and the fourth was dropped soon after.³ Following those verdicts, Colonies’ investors successfully sued the county for malicious prosecution, and Ramos lost his 2018 re-election bid amid the fallout.⁴
Details of the Suspension Agreement
Under a stipulation filed April 23, 2025, Ramos admitted he “suppressed evidence he had a legal duty to produce” by deleting campaign emails and personal text messages once civil discovery began.⁵ The Office of Chief Trial Counsel proposed a two-year stayed suspension, two years probation, and six months of actual suspension, along with mandatory ethics schooling, passing the MPRE, and about $2,500 in disciplinary costs.⁶ The agreement now goes to the California Supreme Court for final approval.
Legal and Ethical Implications
State Bar Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona emphasized that “prosecutors wield tremendous authority and discretion,” and this sanction “reinforces the State Bar’s commitment to ensuring that those who violate the rules governing attorney conduct … are held responsible.”⁷ Legal experts note that destroying evidence under court order is grossly negligent and undermines public trust, potentially exposing the county to further civil liability.⁸
Impact on the Inland Empire Community
Residents of the Inland Empire have long watched the Colonies saga as a test of local government accountability. Community leaders say the suspension may help restore confidence but stress the need for stronger transparency measures and ethics training for all county officials.⁹ “In San Bernardino, we expect our leaders to uphold the law, not skirt it,” said a spokesperson for a local watchdog group.
Reaction from Legal and Civic Stakeholders
Stephen Larson of Larson LLP, who represented Colonies Partners, called the sanction “overdue accountability” for what he termed “political persecution.”¹⁰ Meanwhile, UC Riverside—where Ramos serves as an adjunct professor—has made no changes to his faculty status but reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous ethics instruction.
Thomas Yarnell / Inland Empire Contributor (Times Media Service)
Thomas Yarnell brings 20+ years of Inland Empire experience and deep understanding of how communities operate across the region.
tyarnell@timesmediaservice.com
