SAN DIEGO -- Charges were filed Wednesday against five people -- including the ex-superintendent of the Sweetwater Union High School District, school board trustees and a contractor who worked for the district -- in what prosecutors called the largest public corruption case of its kind in San Diego County.

Charged with bribery, perjury and other charges were former SUHSD Superintendent Jesus Gandara, trustees Arlie Ricasa and Pearl Quinones, 16-year former board member Greg Sandoval and Henry Amigable, a contractor who worked for a construction company hired by the school district.

An official with Seville Construction Services told 10News Amigable was terminated on January 17, 2011.

After learning of the charges, Sweetwater Union High School District Superintendent Ed Brand said the district was "taken aback" by the allegations, but added he believes the board members charged are innocent until proven guilty.

Brand also announced that the district is suspending all activities conducted by the construction firm Amigable previously worked for.

"I believe we have to be completely satisfied that there is nothing inappropriate done in the past, or on current projects," Brand said.

All were allegedly involved in a "pay-for-play" culture with businesses that were awarded contracts for voter-approved bond projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars, said District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.

Between 2008 and 2011, the defendants frequented San Diego-area restaurants with Amigable and others, racking up hundreds of dollars in food and drinks at a time, in some cases reaching more than $1,000 per outing, Dumanis said. The defendants were also given Los Angeles Lakers playoff tickets, Rose Bowl tickets and a trip to Napa Valley, she said.

The county's top prosecutor said the investigation has been going on for a year.

"The widespread corruption we uncovered during our investigation of this case is outrageous and shameful," Dumanis said. "For years, public officials regularly accepted what amounted to bribes in exchange for their votes on multimillion-dollar construction projects. The corruption was nothing short of systemic."

Gandara, Sandoval, Quinones and Ricasa are charged with perjury, filing a false document and other charges. Amigable is charged with giving or offering a bribe.

When asked if corruption in the Sweetwater District was systemic, as indicated by Dumanis, Brand said, "I believe that if there is anything wrong with the district, it's localized, and we found nothing to indicate that it was widespread."

Brand said the district’s lawyers are researching whether the district will have to foot the legal bills of the board members and former superintendent charged in connection with the corruption allegations.

All defendants will be arraigned Jan. 13 at the downtown courthouse. If convicted, they face between four and seven years in state prison.

Attorney Paul Pfingst, who is representing Gandara, said his fee is not being paid by taxpayer dollars, but several concerned parents told 10News Gandara’s separation agreement with the Sweetwater District says the district will pay his legal fees.

Those same concerned parents and teachers say they want to see the school board shaken up.

"This board has lost the trust of this community and probably will not gain it back anytime soon," said parent Stewart Payne. "If these board members really care about the kids of this community like they claim they do, they would all resign so we can get this district back on track."

Payne said he will demand their resignations at the next school board meeting.

Pfingst told 10News Gandara will be able to clear up most of the charges against him after he tracks down receipts that show he paid back the "gifts" that were received from Amigable.

Pfingst also noted that none of the charges against Gandara indicated he accepted any bribes, just that he didn’t file the proper paperwork.