{"id":495210,"date":"2026-10-14T00:38:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T00:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/495210\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T00:38:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T00:38:12","slug":"san-mateo-da-charges-former-49ers-executive-in-1-4m-corruption-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/495210\/","title":{"rendered":"San Mateo DA charges former 49ers executive in $1.4M corruption case"},"content":{"rendered":"

A former San Francisco 49ers<\/a> executive and his friend allegedly turned taxpayer-funded construction projects into a $1.4 million kickback scheme \u2014 until unpaid businesses started asking questions.<\/p>\n

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told The California Post that a grand jury was \u201cincensed\u201d as they reviewed the evidence over two weeks, calling the alleged scheme an \u201cextraordinarily serious\u201d example of white-collar crime.<\/p>\n

Jim Mercurio, former Executive Vice President & General Manager, San Francisco 49ers, Levi\u2019s Stadium. alsd.com<\/p>\n

Former 49ers exec James Cunningham Mercurio, 55, of Vacaville, is facing numerous criminal charges.<\/p>\n

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Mercurio, who worked nearly 30 years for the 49ers in stadium operations and rose to become an executive vice president and general manager for the club, allegedly steered contracts to McLennan, who returned portions of the payments to his longtime friend rather than using all the money for construction, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n

The county Event Center hired Mercurio in 2024 to oversee three construction projects, each supported by $1 million in county tax dollars. Alleged kickbacks to Mercurio totaled about $1.4 million, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re only talking about a year and a half and $1.4 million, but for San Mateo County that\u2019s big,\u201d Wagstaffe said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe for the federal government looking into corruption in L.A.<\/a> or something, that\u2019s petty ante. But for us, it\u2019s a very serious offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Mateo District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe, left, holds a press conference as family and friends of victims gather in front of the San Mateo courthouse. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The indictment last week charged both men with two counts of misappropriating public money, one count of embezzlement and 20 counts each of commercial bribery. McLennan also faces a felony forgery charge involving an allegedly fabricated performance bond.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors included aggravated white-collar crime allegations involving a pattern of related felonies and the taking of more than $500,000.<\/p>\n

Both men pleaded not guilty at their Oct. 8 arraignment, and court records show Mercurio posted a $750,000 bond.<\/p>\n

The charges against the former NFL exec come just two months after 49ers owner Jed York was arrested in August in an Ohio prostitution sting<\/a>. York pleaded no contest to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools after prosecutors reduced the prostitution charge. He was later suspended by the NFL and fined $500,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n

American businessman and owner of the San Francisco 49ers Jed York looks on during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday, May 10, 2026. SNS Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n

In a handout photo provided by the Columbiana County Jail, San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York poses for a police booking photo after his arrest on Aug. 23, 2026, in Lisbon, Ohio. York was booked on charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools before pleading no contest to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. Getty Images<\/p>\n

The investigation into the San Mateo County scheme started after McLennan fell behind on payments to subcontractors, Wagstaffe said. One subcontractor asked to inspect the performance bond, prompting county attorneys to examine the document.<\/p>\n

One big problem \u2014 the bond was fake, according to authorities.<\/p>\n

Corruption investigators then worked to document the alleged payments and transactions before prosecutors presented evidence to a grand jury.<\/p>\n

Wagstaffe said the case required painstaking legwork rather than untangling a sophisticated operation with numerous participants.<\/p>\n

San Mateo District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe speaks at a press conference on Monday, June 24, 2019, in San Mateo, Calif. Wagstaffe spoke following the arraignment of suspect Malik Dosouqi, 26, who is alleged to have lured two men under false pretenses to a remote section of Highway 35 where he stabbed them to death. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n

His \u201cdogged\u201d investigator, he said, typically \u201cpeels that onion right down to the core.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t have too many peels to take off on this one,\u201d Wagstaffe said.<\/p>\n

Mercurio\u2019s attorney, Brian Getz, did not respond to The Post\u2019s requests for comment but defended his client in comments to Bay City News<\/a>, pointing to his decades with the football team and community ties.<\/p>\n

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\u201cJames Mercurio has a solid record of community service and was a successful executive with the San Francisco 49ers for 30 years,\u201d Getz said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have every confidence in James Mercurio as a person and as a litigant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael Guingona, an attorney for McLennan, declined comment Tuesday, telling The Post he has not received discovery and is still working to get his client released from custody.<\/p>\n

Wagstaffe said the allegations underscore the danger of relying on personal relationships or professional reputations without checking how money is being handled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s got to be a check and balance. There\u2019s got to be oversight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The DA cited another case involving Clarise Blanchard<\/a>, 79, who was named San Mateo County\u2019s 2008 Woman of the Year. She was sentenced in August to six months in jail for embezzling more than $813,000 from the mental health nonprofit StarVista, according to Bay City News.<\/p>\n

The lesson, Wagstaffe said, is that the government must \u201ctrust but verify\u201d whenever taxpayer money is being used.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to have people who are double-checking people\u2019s words,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember my father saying that he thought the world of law and business went down the drain when you couldn\u2019t rely on a handshake anymore. And the answer is, it\u2019s certainly true. You can\u2019t do that. You\u2019d be a fool to do that anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

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