Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
As Sentencing Date Nears, Prosecutors Recommend 6 Years In Prison For Mark Ridley-Thomas
Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas attends the naming ceremony for the Avis and Mark Ridley-Thomas Health Center on September 16, 2021.
(
Screengrab from L.A. City Channel 35.
)
Federal prosecutors say former L.A. City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas deserves 79 months in prison for his public corruption conviction. Their recommendations runs counter to a probation report that says Ridley-Thomas has done a lot of good for the community and deserves 18 months probation.
On March 30, a jury found the one-time Los Angeles County supervisor guilty of conspiring to support a county contract for USC in exchange for one of the school’s deans providing Ridley-Thomas' son a full scholarship and faculty job. The dean also helped funnel money from a Ridley-Thomas political fund to one operated by his son through the university.
Ridley-Thomas, 68, has appealed his conviction.
Prosecutors: 'This was a shakedown'
In their sentencing memo filed Monday, prosecutors cited a “strong need for general deterrence to curb the ... crushing weight of public corruption" in L.A.
Support for LAist comes from
“This was a shakedown," the prosecutors wrote. "Not the kind in movies with bags of cash or threats of force. But the kind that is polite and pervasive. The kind to which society, sadly, has become so accustomed that it often goes unreported and rarely yields consequences for the offender but strikes a devastating blow to the integrity of our democratic system.”
The federal probation department report is confidential but prosecutors mention it in their memo. They said the report suggests “that defendant has served his community” and should get a year-and-a-half in prison.
Defense: 'Ridley-Thomas has made an historic impact'
Ridley-Thomas was born and raised in L.A. and was president of the city’s chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for a decade until 1991, when he was elected to the City Council. He served until 2002, representing the 8th District, which covers large swaths of South L.A.
Ridley-Thomas served in the state legislature for six years before being elected to the county Board of Supervisors in 2008. He was termed out of office in 2020 and elected to the L.A. City Council again.
In a court filing, Ridley-Thomas’ defense attorneys argue he deserves probation only, echoing the probation department view.
Support for LAist comes from
“Dr. Ridley-Thomas has made an historic impact in the community. He has devoted decades to serving others, to empowering historically silenced voices, to doing everything in his power to make Los Angeles a better place,” his defense team wrote.
The defense also submitted 130 letters of support for Ridley-Thomas from community leaders.
Prosecutors largely dismissed the letters and any good works by Ridley-Thomas as an elected leader.
"Defendant does not have to be a 'bad' person to be deserving of a significant sentence. The fact that he is kind to family, friends, and individuals with whom he has a mutually-beneficial political relationship is not a significant mitigating factor," their memo states.
Ridley-Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer on Aug. 21.
Corrected August 17, 2023 at 2:52 PM PDT
This story was updated to correct a statement from a probation report. It recommends that Mark Ridley-Thomas be sentenced to 18 months probation, not 18 months imprisonment.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist