With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
Real Estate Developer Pleads Guilty On RICO Charge, In Latest City Hall Corruption Investigation Twist
City Hall from Grand Park on Tuesday March 24. (Chava Sanchez/ LAist)
()
A Granada Hills real estate developer will plead guilty in connection with a scheme to bribe public officials — including an unnamed member of the Los Angeles City Council — to smooth the passage of real estate projects.
George Chiang, 41, agreed to plead guilty, according to documents filed in federal court today. The public officials involved in the scheme netted cash, consulting fees, concert and game tickets, and political donations as part of the scheme. The court papers detail how the city councilmember accepted bribes from a Chinese real estate business, for which Chiang consulted.
Chiang became a "close political ally" of a city councilmember on the powerful Planning and Land Use Management Commitee, a release from the Department of Justice said. He also worked closely with a longtime city employee who became Deputy Mayor for Economic Development.
No date has been set for Chiang to enter his guilty plea. When he does, he will face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Support for LAist comes from
Chiang is the third person to plead guilty to a felony charge as part of a wide-ranging F.B.I. investigation into corruption at Los Angeles city hall. Former Councilmember Mitch Englander pled guilty to obstruction of justice in March.
In 2018, the FBI raided the home and office of Councilmember Jose Huizar, who then sat on the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, as part of the corruption probe. Huizar has not been charged with a crime, and continues to represent the 14th District.
DO DEEPER
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures. -
It will be the second national day of protest against President Donald Trump. -
The university says the compact, as the Trump administration called it, could undermine free inquiry and academic excellence. -
This is the one time you can do this legally! -
Metro officials said it will be able to announce an opening date “soon.” -
While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that 13 employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week.
Best of LAist