Former LA Memorial Coliseum Executives Arrested

Two former executives with the LA Coliseum and the owner of a music promotion company were arrested Thursday, according to the LA District Attorney's office.

Former Coliseum GM Patrick Lynch and former events manager Todd DeStefano were taken into custody, according to a spokeswoman for the DA's office. Details regarding the arrests were not immediately available.

Lynch was arrested at his Torrance home, and DeStefano was arrested at a friend's house in Venice.

Authorities also arrested Go Ventures Inc. owner Reza Gerami, the DA's office said. Southern California-based Go Ventures was the company behind several large-scale electronic music shows at the Coliseum and Sports Arena, including The Love Festival and Monster Massive.

The Coliseum Commission sued Lynch and DeStefano in November, alleging mismanagement of funds. The complaint alleges "deceptive practices to siphon off revenue to themselves."

Both men resigned after conflict of interest allegations involving companies that did business with the Coliseum.

Lynch had managed the Coliseum and adjacent Sports Arena since 1994. DeStefano's attorney, Richard G. Hirsch, said his client did not bilk money from the commission.

"Todd DeStefano did exactly what Coliseum Commissioners asked and expected him to do -- make the Coliseum and Sports Arena a profitable enterprise,'' Hirsch said in a news release. "Rather than owning up to their failure the manage the Coliseum, a group of commissioners with the help of the district attorney are trying to turn attention away from their own mismanagement by manipulating the facts to support unfounded criminal charges against Mr. DeStefano.''

The case included an audit of Coliseum finances by City Controller Wendy Greuel -- the first audit in the Coliseum's history. The audit announcement followed a request by the Coliseum to issue annual pay raises for more than 20 employees. That request raised "many red flags," Greuel said.

The Coliseum, established in 1923, is jointly operated by the city, county and state. It is governed by a commission of employees representing those stakeholders and funded by operating revenues.

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