Los Angeles public corruption cases

Meghann Cuniff
Dec 07, 2023
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An FBI agent testified Los Angeles has more corruption than Chicago. A federal prosecutor said corruption is a “way of life” in Los Angeles. I love covering white-collar crime, so I am here for it.

Feds want corrupt LA politician Jose Huizar to do 13 years for RICO pay-to-play conspiracy

Meghann Cuniff
·
December 30, 2023
Feds want corrupt LA politician Jose Huizar to do 13 years for RICO pay-to-play conspiracy

Prosecutors want a former Los Angeles politician to serve 13 years in federal prison for turning his downtown City Council district into a racketeering enterprise that included lavish Las Vegas gambling parties and trysts with prostitutes arranged by a billionaire developer who’s now a fugitive.

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'Quarterback' attorney of massive LA public corruption scandal gets 33 months in prison

Meghann Cuniff
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November 8, 2023
'Quarterback' attorney of massive LA public corruption scandal gets 33 months in prison

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered a disbarred lawyer to serve 33 months in prison for a “mind-boggling” bribery scandal involving a collusive lawsuit, sham …

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A rapper, a developer and a politician each requested bail pending appeal. Only one got it.

Meghann Cuniff
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October 28, 2023
A rapper, a developer and a politician each requested bail pending appeal. Only one got it.

A California appellate court on Friday rejected rapper Tory Lanez’s request for bail as he appeals his convictions for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. The order follows two other bail-related developments in cases I’ve covered that, taken together, highlight how prosecutors and judges…

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State bar probe into Los Angeles lawyers delays final sentencing in scandal over sham lawsuit

Meghann Cuniff
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June 28, 2023
State bar probe into Los Angeles lawyers delays final sentencing in scandal over sham lawsuit

A massive California State Bar investigation into powerful attorneys in Los Angeles prompted a judge on Tuesday to delay the final sentencing in a bribery scandal involving a collusive lawsuit, secret deals, sham lawyering and fake adversaries hatched within the City Attorney’s Office.

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Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for USC bribery

Meghann Cuniff
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August 28, 2023
Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for USC bribery

A federal judge on Monday sentenced Los Angeles political stalwart Mark Ridley-Thomas to 3 1/2 years in prison for a public corruption bribery scheme with the Univ…

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Ex-USC dean who bribed Mark Ridley-Thomas avoids prison with 18 months home confinement

Meghann Cuniff
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July 24, 2023
Ex-USC dean who bribed Mark Ridley-Thomas avoids prison with 18 months home confinement

A retired University of Southern California dean who admitted to bribing Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas was ordered Monday to pay a $150,000 fine and stay…

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Cash-flush developer gets 6 years in prison for 'unique and infectious crime' of public corruption

Meghann Cuniff
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July 22, 2023
Cash-flush developer gets 6 years in prison for 'unique and infectious crime' of public corruption

A federal judge on Friday sentenced a commercial real estate developer to six years in prison for bribing ex-Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar in a corruption conspira…

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Developer who bribed ex-L.A. Councilman José Huizar asks for leniency as feds seek 7 years

Meghann Cuniff
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July 12, 2023
Developer who bribed ex-L.A. Councilman José Huizar asks for leniency as feds seek 7 years

Federal prosecutors say a developer convicted of bribing former Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar should spend seven years in prison, and they’re differentiating him from Huizar by referencing the disgraced politician’s “public and fulsome admission of corrupt conduct.”

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Citing lawyer's illness, judge declares mistrial in ex-Los Angeles deputy mayor's corruption trial

Meghann Cuniff
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April 13, 2023
Citing lawyer's illness, judge declares mistrial in ex-Los Angeles deputy mayor's corruption trial

A legendary lawyer’s health problems have derailed the final trial in a broad federal prosecution over Los Angeles City Hall corruption. U.S. District Judge John F. Walter declared a mistrial Thursday morning in Raymond Chan’s racketeering case, nearly six weeks after trial was…

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March 6: Lawyer's illness halts L.A. City Hall bribery trial

Former L.A. Planning Commission president testifies about strange meeting with Ray Chan

Meghann Cuniff
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March 3, 2023
Former L.A. Planning Commission president testifies about strange meeting with Ray Chan

In one respect, David Ambroz’s 2017 meeting with a Los Angeles deputy mayor at the Mama Shelter bar in Hollywood was typical: The self-described picky eater and vegetarian said he often finds himself looking at food he can’t eat. But in every other respe…

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Testimony implicates ex-L.A. Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan in developer's $600K sex harassment settlement bribe to Jose Huizar

Meghann Cuniff
·
March 2, 2023
Testimony implicates ex-L.A. Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan in developer's $600K sex harassment settlement bribe to Jose Huizar

Ex-Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar’s longtime aide testified this week that now-retired Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan suggested a billionaire real estate developer pay Huizar’s 2014 sexual harassment settlement, then h…

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'This is scary, boss': Jurors hear ex-Los Angeles Councilman Huizar's covert bathroom meeting

Meghann Cuniff
·
February 26, 2023
'This is scary, boss': Jurors hear ex-Los Angeles Councilman Huizar's covert bathroom meeting

A longtime assistant to ex-Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar testified Friday of his former boss’ persistent efforts to collect $200,000 in cash bribes the you…

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Feb. 22: 'Your Honor! This is proper!' Harland Braun gives his opening statement in ex-L.A. deputy…

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