Beaumont city treasurer charged with perjury, identity theft

BEAUMONT, Calif. — Beaumont’s elected city treasurer has been charged with six felonies following a public corruption investigation into allegations that he falsely reported revenue from a motel he operated and later used another person’s identity in communications with the city, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Anup Giresh “AJ” Patel, 39, faces three counts of perjury and one count each of identity theft, forgery and false personation, the District Attorney’s Office announced Sept. 15.

The charges relate to Patel’s private business activities and are separate from his duties as city treasurer, according to the city of Beaumont.

Prosecutors allege Patel submitted multiple transient occupancy tax return forms to the city stating that a motel he operated received no gross rent from April 2020 through December 2023. The forms were signed under penalty of perjury.

In January 2025, Beaumont began an audit of hotels and motels covering January 2021 through December 2023. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the audit found Patel’s motel collected more than $1.67 million in gross rent during that three-year period.

Prosecutors say Patel owed the city $166,730 in transient occupancy taxes, plus additional penalties.

Patel is also accused of using another person’s identity to create a fraudulent lease agreement and communicate with the city regarding the taxes owed.

The city said it filed a civil lawsuit against Patel and reported the underlying matter to the District Attorney’s Office for investigation.

“The allegations described by the District Attorney’s Office concern Patel’s private business activities within the city and are separate from his official duties as City Treasurer,” the city said in a statement.

Because the criminal case is pending, the city said it would not comment on the merits of the charges or court proceedings. City services and financial operations are continuing without interruption, according to the statement.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit investigated the case.

Patel posted $30,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 26. If convicted on all six counts, he faces a maximum sentence of six years and four months in state prison, according to prosecutors.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Natasha Sorace of the Public Integrity Unit.