When Giovanni Tilotta, a police equipment supplier, was convicted of three felonies in one of the biggest law enforcement scandals in San Diego history, his attorney at the time wrote that he “pretty much lost everything.”

Tilotta’s business was going downhill, in other words, because of his convictions. Only that wasn’t what happened.

Before his conviction in 2022, Tilotta ran a company called Omni Equipment Solutions that sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment to the San Diego Police Department. These days, business seems to be going well.

Since Tilotta’s conviction, various city departments, including the SDPD, have purchased more than $1 million in equipment from Omni.

The largest purchases – approximately $900,000 worth – came from the city’s contract and procurement department for supplies in the city’s central warehouse. A spokesperson could not immediately say exactly what had been purchased, but said the types of items kept in the warehouse include bags, first aid kits, flashlights, helmets, tools and other equipment.

SDPD has spent more than $230,000 with Omni on everything from night vision to gun magazines and rescue ladders, according to receipts obtained by the Voice of San Diego.

Tilotta played a role in a sensational law enforcement scandal surrounding Marco Garmo, a powerful sheriff’s captain who was planning a run for sheriff. Garmo, who took a plea deal, had two prominent side hustles, illegal gun dealing and tipped off East County marijuana dispensaries before sheriff’s raids.

Garmo used Tilotta, a licensed gun dealer, to falsify paperwork in the gun-dealing scheme, according to court documents.

Garmo would buy guns that are only available in California to members of law enforcement — known as “off-roster” guns — with the intent of selling them to others. Tilotta basically whitewashed the paperwork. He helped hide the “straw purchases” and also backdated forms so that Garmo’s customer could get their guns immediately. (California requires a 10-day waiting period before a gun buyer can actually pick up their firearm.)

Text messages entered into evidence show that Tilotta talked to Garmo about how he could get a contract with the Sheriff’s Office.

Profit was not Garmo’s only motive for selling weapons. He also wanted to favor wealthy San Diegans, like jewelry store owner Leo Hamel. Hamel, who was also convicted in the scheme, was an avid gun collector. By getting him guns, Garmo hoped he could pick up a benefactor in his intended run for sheriff.

Tilotta served a six-month sentence and lost his firearms license for his part in the scheme. Although he lost his license to sell guns, Tilotta is not barred from selling other law enforcement equipment.

At the time of his sentencing, Tilotta’s attorney argued that Tilotta should not serve a prison sentence because his business had already been destroyed.

“Although his business is still up and running, it is going up in smoke and he will be forced into a new line when his lease expires,” wrote Jeremy Warren, Tilotta’s attorney.

The receipts show that this has not been the case.

SDPD has made more than a dozen purchases from Tilotta since he was sentenced in September 2022. The largest was $69,714, while others were less than $1,000.

Several deals between the SDPD and Tilotta actually occurred while he was serving his six-month prison sentence between early May 2023 and November 13, 2023.

During that time, SDPD made five purchases from Tilotta totaling more than $73,000.

Ashley Nicholes, a spokesman for the SDPD, said the department followed all proper procedures when making purchases from Omni.

“The city’s contracting guidelines do not include a requirement to perform a background check on all vendors,” Nicholes wrote in an email.

I asked Nicholes, as well as another spokesman who oversees some of the city’s other departments, if they had been aware of Tilotta’s connection to the Garmo scandal.

Nicholes declined to say. The second spokeswoman, Nicole Darling, said there was no reason to believe officials in other city departments were aware of Tilotta’s history.

I also asked both Nicholes and Darling if the city planned to continue doing business with Tilotta.

Nicholes also declined to answer that question on SDPD’s behalf, writing, “SDPD has not purchased from the vendor since July 1, 2024.”

Darling wrote, “The City will need to further evaluate Mr. Tilotta’s role within Omni Solutions to determine the future of the business relationship.”

Tilotta is the owner of Omni, according to court filings, and he is listed as CEO and CFO, according to company filings.

In addition to the SDPD and the city’s contracting and purchasing department, the San Diego Fire Department, Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Public Utilities also purchase equipment from Tilotta.

Tilotta did not respond to several phone messages and an email. I also tried to find him at the Omni, but the office was closed on another weekday when I visited.

Tilotta is a veteran of the US Marine Corps, who served two combat tours in Iraq. In a dramatic scene, he rescued three people from a burning helicopter and helped them get to safety on another plane, according to court documents.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Gio,” wrote Enrique Gauthier during Tilotta’s sentence. Gauthier was one of the men Tilotta saved.

“He is the epitome of selflessness and has a heart of gold,” Gauthier wrote. “He’s the guy you want in your corner and is someone who will always have your back.”

I asked Jared Wilson, president of the San Diego Police Officers Association, what he thought of the deals.

“I don’t see this as controversial as long as the city followed existing procedures and got a good deal,” Wilson wrote. “Which based on the pricing, it seems like (it) did.”

Tilotta has appealed his conviction and that case is still working its way through federal court.