Prosecutors are expected to urge a federal judge to sentence prominent Los Angeles County politician Mark Ridley-Thomas Monday to six years behind bars 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. “Not the kind in movies with bags of…
, while he was a suspended member of the LA City Council, on single counts of conspiracy, bribery, honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors.
In defense papers, Ridley-Thomas' attorneys argued for a probationary sentence along the lines of the penalty handed to his co-defendant, Marilyn Flynn. According to Parks, “what was missed in the sentencing recommendation was how Mr. Ridley-Thomas' colleagues were also victimized by his crimes. He misled his colleagues by soliciting their voting support, while failing to advise them of his corrupt behavior. By doing this, he led them to the brink of corruption, which cast doubt on their honesty, integrity and opened the door for their constituents to believe they were involved in his schemes.
According to the prosecution, Ridley-Thomas shook down Flynn, and in doing so made his demands known: “Help me and my son in exchange for Los Angeles County business.” Federal prosecutors based their case on a long string of emails and letters they say showed that Ridley-Thomas, one of the most formidable politicians in Los Angeles, “used his publicly-provided privileges to monetize his elected office and demand benefits for his son.”
In their argument for probation and home confinement, defense attorneys maintain there is no need to incarcerate their client.
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Mark Ridley-Thomas faces sentencing in federal corruption caseProsecutors are expected to urge a federal judge to sentence prominent Los Angeles County politician Mark Ridley-Thomas today to six years behind bars 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. “Not the kind in movies with bags of…
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Former LA Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas to be sentenced in corruption caseProsecutors are expected to urge a federal judge to sentence prominent Los Angeles County politician Mark Ridley-Thomas Monday to six years behind bars for voting in support of county contracts that would favor USC while accepting benefits for his son from the university.
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