Engineer tells California board he is remorseful, asks to reinstate licenses after 2018 revocation

An Oakland engineer whose licenses were revoked after a 2018 stipulated settlement told the Board that he is remorseful, has completed court-ordered terms, and asked for restoration so he can resume mentoring and limited project work.

The petitioner, identified in the hearing as Mr. Sodipo, said he did not intend to break the law when he continued to sign engineering plans after his license renewals lapsed. He repeatedly described being overwhelmed by business and cash-flow problems during a multi-year downturn and said he “never intended” to take money improperly. He told the panel he pleaded guilty to a single count related to signing plans while not current and was sentenced to 16 days of community service and three years’ probation; he said probation ended in April 2021.

Board members and the attorney for the People questioned the petitioner about why he failed to cooperate with the Board’s investigation years earlier. The petitioner acknowledged he “stuck [his] head in the sand,” told the Board he was overwhelmed by financial pressures and staff losses after a burglary and other business setbacks, and said he regretted failing to communicate with clients and the Board. Petitioner said he retained counsel in 2017 and entered a stipulated revocation in 2018, and later described regret about legal advice he received at that time.

At the hearing the petitioner outlined a record of prior professional work and community involvement: he described building Karona Engineers after resigning from Ackland International, designing multiple schools and affordable-housing projects, and running an unpaid mentoring program called Aspire for college-bound students. He also described recent, limited project work done while unlicensed (e.g., permit coordination and small ADU jobs performed under supervision) and said he is now focused on part‑time project management for a local nonprofit, Healthy Communities Inc., which has a brownfield site cleanup effort tied to a $2 million Department of Toxic Substances Control grant.

Three witnesses testified in support. Daniel (Dan) Franco, described in the hearing as the petitioner’s long‑time business mentor, said he has hired the petitioner on projects and described him as “hands on” and dedicated; two other supporters, Ernie Olatunji and a project manager who previously worked under the petitioner, described mentorship and professional assistance they received. Letters from other former clients and mentees were also referenced during testimony.

The petitioner described specific remediation and continuing‑education steps: he told the panel he has done hundreds of hours of study and continuing education since 2018 (he estimated “at least 400 hours” of industry coursework and webinars), is taking leadership and management courses, and volunteered to help prepare future licensure candidates. He pledged that if reinstated he would not allow his licenses to lapse again.

The Attorney General’s representative questioned the petitioner about returning client funds and three projects identified in the accusation; the petitioner said he repaid a $600 deposit in one matter after returning from his father’s funeral and said in another matter the owner told the Board the petitioner did not owe money. The attorney emphasized the People’s view that public protection is paramount and that the petitioner bears the burden to prove rehabilitation.

The hearing record was closed at the end of testimony and argument; the Board indicated the matter would be deliberated in closed session and a decision would be issued later. No formal vote or reinstatement decision was made at the hearing.

Clarifying details from the hearing: the petitioner said he pleaded guilty to one criminal count arising from signing plans while his license was expired and was sentenced to 16 days’ community service and a three‑year probationary term that ended in April 2021. He said some of the deposits and client disputes named in the accusation were repaid or later resolved; he estimated at least 400 hours of continuing education and training since 2018 and described unpaid volunteer work for churches and a college‑prep program. He asked the Board to consider his long record of mentoring emerging engineers and his recent work with Healthy Communities Inc.

The record will be the basis of the Board’s closed‑session deliberations and final decision.

Ending: The Board submitted the matter for internal deliberation; the record was closed at the hearing’s end and a written decision will follow after closed‑session consideration.