One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Former State Senator Faces 20 Years After Pleading Guilty To Taking Bribes
State Senator Ron Calderon with his wife, Ana. Photo by Carol Crosby via the LAist Photo Pool on Flickr.
Ron Calderon, a former state senator from Montebello, is expected to plead guilty today to allegations that he'd taken bribes while in office, reports L.A. Weekly. The charges against Calderon could land him in prison for 20 years. But his lawyers say that, as part of the plea, they want him to serve no more than 70 months. In a deal made with prosecutors, Calderon will plead guilty to mail fraud. The charge encompasses a number of violations that Calderon had committed while in office. In one incident he'd agreed to push for legislation that would benefit the owner of a Long Beach Hospital, as long as the owner hired Calderon's son as a paid intern. Calderon also advocated a tax break for producers of small-budget films; he took up this position after being courted by a group of film executives who were actually FBI agents working undercover. In this incident Calderon also demanded that one of the executives hire his daughter.
Former state assemblyman Tom Calderon, Ron's brother, pleaded guilty last week to allegations that he was laundering money on Ron's behalf. The charges mark a steep fall for the once-mighty Calderon political dynasty, according to the L.A. Times. Ron, Tom, along with older brother Charles, rose from Montebello to become notable power players in the political sphere. "Known for a ruthless style of political hardball and audacious fundraising, the brothers were masters of leverage, using others' wants and weaknesses to their advantage," said the Times.
In 2014, the Whittier Daily News reported that Charles, a former assemblyman, had directed $40,000 in campaign funds to to his son Ian for "Web-consulting services." Reporters found no evidence of an internet presence, however. In 2015 the Fair Political Practices Commission said that it couldn't find "sufficient evidence"of wrong doing on Charles' part, The Sacramento Bee reported.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
