Prominent Los Angeles County politician Mark Ridley-Thomas was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison for voting in support of county contracts that would favor USC while accepting benefits for his son from the university.
“This was a shakedown,” prosecutors wrote in sentencing papers. See the Justice Department’s recap of the case below.
“Not the kind in movies with bags of cash or threats of force. But the kind that is polite and pervasive. The kind that happens too often by sophisticated, powerful people. The kind to which society, sadly, has become so accustomed that it often goes unreported and rarely yields consequences for the offender but strikes a devastating blow to the integrity of our democratic system.”
Defense attorneys asked for a term of home confinement, community service and a fine, but no prison time. However, if incarceration is required, they requested no more than two years and three months,...
“This was a shakedown,” prosecutors wrote in sentencing papers. See the Justice Department’s recap of the case below.
“Not the kind in movies with bags of cash or threats of force. But the kind that is polite and pervasive. The kind that happens too often by sophisticated, powerful people. The kind to which society, sadly, has become so accustomed that it often goes unreported and rarely yields consequences for the offender but strikes a devastating blow to the integrity of our democratic system.”
Defense attorneys asked for a term of home confinement, community service and a fine, but no prison time. However, if incarceration is required, they requested no more than two years and three months,...
- 8/28/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was convicted today of federal bribery and conspiracy charges, along with mail and wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors and accommodations provided to his son by a then-USC dean.
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Despite his vehement denials of wrongdoing, the local political giant was found guilty on single counts of bribery and conspiracy, along with one count of honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud. Jurors, who reached their verdict on Day 5 of deliberations, acquitted him on 12 other fraud counts.
Related Story Kevin de León, In Contentious CNN Interview, Defends Decision To Stay On Los Angeles City Council Related Story Los Angeles Remains World's Soundstage Leader, But Other Locales Are Catching Up: FilmLA Report Related Story Lausd Strike: Campus Workers Reach Tentative Deal With District, Must Still Be Voted On By Union's Members – Updated
Despite his vehement denials of wrongdoing, the local political giant was found guilty on single counts of bribery and conspiracy, along with one count of honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud. Jurors, who reached their verdict on Day 5 of deliberations, acquitted him on 12 other fraud counts.
- 3/30/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
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