Ontario Council Member Alan Wapner Faces FBI Probe and Misconduct Claims

The owners of Treasure Banquet Hall told the Ontario City Council on August 4, 2026, that the city forced their downtown event venue to close for nearly 18 months. Siblings Marianne Hanouneh and Andrew Hanouneh allege that the city cut power to their building without warning during a permit dispute, despite the owners complying with requirements for new plans.

Marianne Hanouneh further alleged that City Council member Alan Wapner claimed he had been pushing for the closure and stated, "I hold the power in this city." These claims surface as the Federal Bureau of Investigation serves search warrants at multiple Southern California locations, including the home of Alan Wapner. Wapner has denied being a suspect, subject, or target of any investigation.

Mayor Paul Leon responded to the situation by calling for Wapner's removal from city committees, stating that the council member has become a distraction. The City Council subsequently voted to consider this removal at a future meeting.