Strange Secrets: Sexual Predator & Former Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli
The Sonoma County District Attorney & local media failed to disclose critical facts while investigating the scandals within the Active 20-30 Club. Are they protecting the criminals?
Per Kron 4, as of March 28, 2024, "The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office has not filed charges against former Windsor mayor Dominic Foppoli. The DA’s office said that it does not have significant evidence to charge Foppoli, but its investigation remains open. Foppoli was accused of sexual assault by multiple women. The accusations came nearly three years ago, prompting Foppoli to resign from being Windsor’s mayor."
“At this time, we don’t have enough evidence to warrant filing charges on the cases not barred by the statute of limitations. However, our investigation remains open, and we urge anyone who believes they may be a victim or who has evidence to come forward,” the DA’s office said.
"The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office raided Foppoli’s home in November 2021, seven months after the accusations against him were publicized. Some items were taken, but attorney Traci Carrillo, who represents seven women claiming to be victims, says authorities waited too long to do the raid.
"The potential victims allege that the sex crimes happened between 2002 and 2021. Four women say they were assaulted while Foppoli was acting as mayor."
"Foppoli has denied the allegations, saying all encounters were consensual."
“I have my head held high because I know deep in my heart that I have done nothing wrong,” he said in April 2021.
"While there have been no criminal charges filed, Carrillo says a civil lawsuit continues to move forward."
“It doesn’t matter that the sheriff’s office failed them in a criminal case because our civil case runs independent of any failures by a law enforcement agency,” she said."
Foppoli resigned in May and has reportedly moved to Italy. KRON4 was unable to contact him for this story."
As of November 2021, after ousting Foppoli, the 20-30 Club Of Santa Rosa was accused of systemic bad behavior. KSRO shared the following statement:
'A young leadership group that former Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli was a part of is being exposed for seemingly systemic bad behavior. The San Francisco Chronicle published an extensive report yesterday on the behaviors and abuse committed not just by Foppoli, but other members of the Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa. Interviews with more than three dozen current, former and prospective club members along with document reviews indicate that the Club had a partying and binge drinking problem along with a culture that normalized sexual violence against its own members. A common joke among the group is that they are a “drinking club with a charity problem.” The investigative article also contends that local and national leaders of Active 20-30 knew for years about Foppoli’s sexual misconduct, reported by female members and leaders chose to ignore or joke about the incidents instead of confronting them. Thirteen women now accuse the former mayor of rape, sexual assault, or misconduct, all of which he has denied.'
Per The San Francisco Chronicle, Windsor leaders admitted to knowing about sexual assault claims against Mayor Foppoli.'The Town Council appointed Foppoli as mayor in 2018, and he went on to win the town’s first election for the seat in 2020. After the publication of The Chronicle’s first investigation into the allegations against Foppoli, the Town Council demanded Foppoli’s resignation and pursued legal remedies to try to remove him from office.' Mr. Bruce Okrepkie, a former Windsor councilmember said 'he urged the town to hire a lawyer to conduct an internal investigation into Foppoli after the Town Council received a second complaint about Foppoli in 2020'.
While investigations were underway, former Councilman Bruce Okrepkie failed to mention his son's potential ties to Mr. Foppoli. Current Santa Rosa Councilman (former Planning Commissioner) Jeff Okrepkie is the son of Mr. Bruce Okrepkie. According to his LinkedIn, Mr. Jeff Okrepkie was the October 2013 Member of the Year, Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa #50, June 2016 President of the Year for the Active 20-30 US & Canada, and an active Executive Member through July 2020.
Mr. Jeff Okrepkie appeared to found a winery by the name of POUR DECISIONS, INC. alongside Mr. Dana Von Sternberg in December 2016. The corporate filing listed Mr. Okrepkie as CEO with Ms. Von Sternberg as CFO/Secretary.
Oddly, per the Active 20-30 website, Mr. Dana Von Sternberg was recognized as a Past President (Sebastopol #63 / Santa Rosa #50) from 2015-2016. Mr. Okrepkie was listed as the Past President (Santa Rosa #50) for years 2018-2019.
As of March 2015, Mr. Von Sternberg became the CFO of Benevolo Wines, Inc. Mr. Dominic Foppoli was listed as the CEO within the corporate filing, and Mr. Joe Foppoli, Mr. Liam McCormick were included as a Director/Officer as well.
Per a 2022 article from The Press Democrat, Mr. Joe Foppoli appears to be the brother of former Mayor Dominic Foppoli
Per the obituary for Mr. Martin Brian McCormick II, was survived by Mr. Liam McCormick, his brother and sister/brother in-law Caitlin (Joe Foppoli). He had previously formed Vokel Cellars. His passion was Vokel, being in the cellar, and working with his brother Liam and friend Dana Von Sternberg
Once again, Mr. Von Sternberg was listed as the CFO for Vokel Cellars, Inc. within the corporate filing
Most 26-year-olds are not the CEO of a winery! However, this was not the case for Ms. Cecilia Enriquez who founded Enriquez Family Estates in 2016. Ironically, she also was a member of her local 20-30 Club.
The founding story of her family’s winery is completely strange:
“The origin of Enriquez Estate Wines is a story of complete fate and circumstance. Eduardo & Ana Enriquez, along with their daughter, Cecilia,came from New Jersey for a ski trip in Lake Tahoe. Unfortunately, the snow conditions were sparse so the family decided to move their trip to San Francisco. On the way to the city, with a few accidental detours, they ended up in beautiful Sonoma County.
I was five months out of college and still drinking box wine. I assumed all wines tasted like that. My dad loves Pinot Noir so our first stop wine tasting was at a small Pinot producer. I remember looking over at him and saying this is what we should be drinking! He and my mom always enjoyed wine and as a physician, the science side of it appealed to him. My mom’s family in Mexico is involved in agriculture, so between their two backgrounds, wine seemed to be the perfect match. – Cecilia Enriquez
Good wine, good food and good friends was all it took for the Enriquez Estate Wine journey to take flight. After a long day of wine tasting, they joined one of the winery owners for dinner. As serendipity would have it, he also had a real estate license and discussions began about Eduardo and Ana retiring with a family wine brand in Sonoma County. Not knowing how to farm or make wine, Eduardo instantly laughed it off. But by the end of dinner, Eduardo agreed to swing by and take a look at a vineyard property on the way to San Francisco. The next day they drove to a 30-acre property for sale in Petaluma.
My mom refused to get out of the car; she thought we were crazy! But I was ready to quit my job at Wells Fargo and come start the family business. My dad suggested that I write a business plan when I got home…and the rest is history. Be careful what you wish for! – Cecilia Enriquez
In June of 2011, Cecilia moved to Petaluma and “attached herself” to anyone who would teach her farming and winemaking practices. Learning the trade from some of the best winemakers in Sonoma County, Cecilia now produces about 1000 cases annually on her own. The operations have since moved up to Forestville in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Cecilia lives on our 8.5-acre vineyard property, ensuring “her baby” gets round-the-clock, hands-on attention from start to finish….and she’s never looked back!
The adventure continues at Enriquez Estate Wines.”
As of April 2017, Ms. Cecilia Enriquez appeared as the CEO for Sonoma Wine Guides Inc. alongside Mr. Dana Von Sternberg as CFO.
In late 2021, Mr. Von Sternberg & Ms. Enriquez appeared to buy a Yacht Club apartment together in Hypoluxo, Florida.
Following allegations of sexual abuse, Active 20-30 United States and Canada, Inc. issued a lengthy statement which referenced Mr. Von Sternberg.
The responses to sexual abuse allegations were drafted by Ms. Ashley Corbett, Active 20-30 Club U.S. & Canada, National President, 2021-2022 & Ms. Tiffany Montgomery, Active 20-30 Club U.S. & Canada Immediate Past National President, 2020-2021.
Ms. Montgomery is the President of Sonoma County & UK based Montgomery & Associates. She was also the International Relations Officer for Active 20-30 International through July 2022. She is currently listed as a member of Active 20-30 Redwood Empire #1029, also located within Santa Rosa, California.
Why has the media made absolutely zero mention of the Okrepkie Family’s involvement with the Active 20-30 Club? Why was Mr. Dana Von Sternberg the CFO for multiple wineries within a short period of time? How do Mr. Von Sternberg and the Enriquez Family actually know each other?
Being that I pieced these matters together within two hours, has the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, City of Windsor and local media truly put forth their best efforts while investigating the case of Mr. Dominic Foppoli?
“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Proverbs 12:19