Suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was federally indicted today on bribery and conspiracy and mail and wire fraud charges stemming from his days as a member of the County Board of Supervisors and made available by a then-USC dean who his son was given.
Despite his vehement denials of wrongdoing, the local political giant was found guilty of multiple counts of bribery and conspiracy, along with one count of honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services fraud. The jury, which reached its verdict on the fifth day of the trial, acquitted him on 12 other counts of fraud. U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer will deliver the verdict on August 14.
Prosecutors alleged that while serving as county executive, the longtime local politician “came forward” and accepted benefits from USC on behalf of his son, Sebastian. Federal prosecutors based their case on a long series of emails and letters to support allegations that Ridley-Thomas and former USC School of Social Work dean Marilyn Flynn filed a counterclaim in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The dean at the time arranged for Sebastian’s admission to USC, a full scholarship, and a paid professorship in exchange for his father’s support for provincial proposals that would allegedly worsen the school’s dire financial situation and save Flynn’s job.
Defense attorney Daralyn Durie countered that nothing Ridley-Thomas did was illegal, and a number of defense witnesses argued that the “paper trail” was not what it seemed. At the end of her two-hour closing argument Thursday, Durie asked the jury to acquit the defendant and “return this man to his home, his job and his community.”
However, the jury was not moved.
Ridley-Thomas, also a former dean of the USC School of Social Work, was suspended by the city council in October 2021 following his indictment. He served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1991 to 2002 and was subsequently elected to the California Convention and Senate. He was then elected to the province’s powerful board of directors in 2008, serving until 2020 and then returning to the city council.
It is the latest blow to a scandal-plagued council, with then-president Nury Martinez resigning in October after she criticized a leaked tape she heard contained racist remarks about another council member’s child, Mike Bonin, who was made. Councilman Kevin de León has resisted calls for his resignation over the bond and Councilman Gil Cedillo lost a re-election bid last year.
In January, former Councilman José Huizar pleaded guilty to federal racketeering and tax evasion charges, and former Councilman Mitch Englander was sentenced to 14 months in prison in January 2021 after a public corruption probe into his acceptance of gifts — including $15,000 in cash — prevented. . a merchant.
The City News Service contributed to this report.
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
