A deal to settle CapRadio’s civil case against ex-GM is close, attorneys say
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- CapRadio and ex-GM Jun Reina report a settlement is close in a civil fraud lawsuit filed in 2024.
- Reina allegedly used $900,000 in station funds for personal expenses and home upgrades.
- A criminal probe by Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office complicates the case.
Attorneys in the civil case filed by Capital Public Radio — accusing its former general manager of stealing money to fund a lavish lifestyle — said Monday settlement negotiations are underway and a deal to resolve the case is close.
After CapRadio underwent a dire financial crisis in 2023, the station filed a lawsuit against its former general manager, Jun Reina, alleging he stole from the radio station. He is accused of taking money to fund a lavish lifestyle filled with overseas vacations and home renovations, according to the lawsuit filed in December.
On Monday, Reina’s attorney said the discovery process is ongoing. The attorneys for both sides said a deal could be imminent ahead of a hearing scheduled for next year.
“Our settlement negotiations have been fruitful,” said Adam Ramirez, a Stockton-based attorney representing Reina. “And we’re just about at the point where we might be able to make a deal in the case.”
Reina is also under criminal investigation, which has affected the civil case. Ramirez said his client cannot provide discovery in the civil case because it could violate his Fifth Amendment rights, which safeguards against self-incrimination.
The criminal investigation, headed by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, was first revealed in August last year by Sacramento State, which holds the licenses for CapRadio.
CapRadio underwent a financial crisis in 2023, after an expensive capital campaign to move its headquarters and create a performance space in downtown Sacramento. The station laid off about 15% of its staff and axed music programming.
The station filed a lawsuit in December seeking $900,000 in damages and for Reina’s West Sacramento home to be placed in a trust.
The radio station accused Reina of enriching himself across the 10 years he worked at CapRadio in various executive roles. He paid his mortgage for his 4,500-square foot home, property taxes, college tuition for his children, fine dining and medical bills through siphoning funds from the radio station, according to the lawsuit.
CapRadio said in its lawsuit about $105,000 of station funds were used to furnish Reina’s home.
The Zillow listing from November 2024 said the five-bedroom, five-bath home had been thoroughly renovated and included updates such as a custom-built, 100-bottle wine cellar, a steam room and a 3,000-gallon koi fish pond.
CapRadio’s board of directors did not know or approve of this spending, according to the lawsuit.
The next hearing in the case was set for April 27.