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After Lying To FBI, Ex-City Councilmember Mitch Englander Gets 14 Months In Prison
Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander, who represented the north San Fernando Valley, including Northridge, West Hills and Porter Ranch. (Mae Ryan/KPCC file photo)
Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander was sentenced today to 14 months in federal prison for his role in an ongoing FBI corruption probe digging into misdeeds at City Hall. Judge John F. Walter also handed down three years supervised release and a $15,000 fine.
Englander faced more than half a dozen federal charges when he agreed last year to plead guilty to one count of scheming to obstruct an FBI investigation.
He admitted to lying to federal agents to cover up cash payments that he accepted in casino bathrooms, plus a lavish Vegas trip -- including $24,000 in bottle service and escorts -- all funded by a businessman allegedly trying to leverage friendships with city officials to access downtown developers and boost sales for his cabinet business.
Speaking to the judge via Zoom, Englander said, “I hurt the very people I love the most … I apologize to the community, my former constituents, and most of all I apologize to my family, my wife and my daughters.”
This case came to light as part of a larger investigation into former City Councilman José Huizar. He faces dozens of corruption charges and is set for trial in June.
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