Brando Villapudua, a Stockton City Councilmember seeking reelection this November, was detained Wednesday morning by investigators from the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office and later released without charges.
The District Attorney’s Office said its Political Corruption Unit, part of the Bureau of Investigations, detained Villapudua while investigators conducted an investigation and served search warrants. Officials did not disclose the specific allegations under investigation or explain what prompted the search.
Villapudua was released several hours later. The District Attorney’s Office declined to comment further, including whether he remains a subject of the investigation.
Villapudua represents Stockton’s District 5 and has served on the City Council since January 2023. Before joining the council, he spent two years as a Stockton Planning Commissioner.
After his release, Villapudua delivered a recorded statement outside Stockton City Hall. He thanked supporters and said he intended to continue performing his duties as a councilmember.
“We’re gonna fight this,” Villapudua said. “I will continue being [a] councilmember. I have events that I will be continuing to do today and for the rest of the week.”
Villapudua also said the search warrant involved questions about his residency. He expressed concern that a prominent Stockton content creator had been present during the operation, taking photographs and recording video of his detention.
“How did he know all that was going on?” Villapudua asked.
The detention adds to a turbulent year in Stockton politics. Villapudua’s District 5 race was initially expected to include Desiree Lynch, who withdrew from the contest earlier this year after being arrested on several felony fraud charges, including an alleged voter-registration violation.
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office investigated Lynch’s case, and court records show she is scheduled to return to court for further arraignment on November 16.
The City Council has also faced controversy involving Jason Lee, who attempted to resign as Stockton’s vice mayor amid concerns about possible misconduct. The council rejected his resignation before later voting 4-2 in October to remove him from the vice mayor position.
Villapudua’s detention comes less than two weeks before Stockton’s November 3 general election. District 5, along with District 3, is among the council seats on the ballot.
Although Villapudua was released without charges, the timing of the investigation could create additional political pressure as voters prepare to decide whether to return him to office.
His campaign or council office had not immediately responded to requests for comment beyond his statement outside City Hall.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced whether any charges will be filed.