Ontario councilmember accused of using power to shut down family banquet hall

Treasure Banquet Hall, owned by siblings Marianne and Andrew Hanouneh, has been without electricity for over a year following a city-ordered power cut tied to a permit dispute in Ontario, California. The owners allege that councilmember Alan Wapner instructed the city to shut them down, even stating he "holds the power in this city" when they sought his assistance. They claim they relied on city-issued permits and invested millions before the service was abruptly terminated without warning.

Meanwhile, the FBI has served search warrants at multiple Southern California locations and at Wapner’s residence, though officials say no direct connection to the power outage has been established. Ontario Mayor Paul Leon described the federal probe as a distraction and noted the council will vote on whether to strip Wapner of his committee roles. Wapner maintains he has not been named a suspect and is unaware of the investigation’s focus. The siblings remain unable to resume operations without power, emphasizing their commitment to the community.