LOS ANGELES – Lengthy-time politician Mark Ridley-Thomas was discovered responsible by a jury right this moment of bribery in a scheme by which his son acquired substantial advantages from the College of Southern California in change for Ridley-Thomas’ political assist for profitable county contracts and contract amendments with the college whereas he served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Ridley-Thomas, 68, of Los Angeles, was discovered responsible of seven felonies: one depend of conspiracy, one depend of bribery, one depend of trustworthy companies mail fraud, and 4 counts of trustworthy companies wire fraud.
Ridley-Thomas’ political profession spans a number of many years, together with within the California State Legislature and, most not too long ago, within the Los Angeles Metropolis Council. He was suspended in October 2021 from the Los Angeles Metropolis Council after being indicted on this case.
“When elected leaders interact in acts of corruption, our neighborhood suffers immense harm. Ridley-Thomas engaged in a corrupt conspiracy with a college dean to steer taxpayer-funded contracts to the varsity in change for advantages for his son,” mentioned United States Legal professional Martin Estrada. “Immediately’s verdict sends a transparent message to public officers that my workplace will vigorously examine and prosecute those that abuse their energy and thereby breach the general public belief.”
“Public officers are elected to be a voice and a vote for the individuals they’re paid to symbolize, not for their very own private achieve,” mentioned Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Cost of the FBI’s Los Angeles Area Workplace. “Allegations of public malfeasance should and will probably be addressed by the FBI earlier than additional corrupt actions erode confidence in our public establishments.”
In response to proof offered at a 16-day trial, from Could 2017 to August 2018, Ridley-Thomas engaged in a prison conspiracy with Marilyn Louise Flynn, 84, of Los Feliz, previously a tenured professor and the dean of USC’s Faculty of Social Work.
In December 2017, citing well being points, Ridley-Thomas’ son abruptly resigned from the California State Meeting. On the time of his resignation, Ridley-Thomas’ son was the topic of a sexual harassment investigation within the Meeting, a reality not recognized by both USC or the general public. Emails and testimony at trial, prosecutors argued, confirmed that the explanation given for the resignation was pretextual. Behind the scenes, Ridley-Thomas was orchestrating a public relations marketing campaign to persuade the general public his son was in poor health, and a authorized workforce was put in place to stall the Meeting’s investigation indefinitely. Prosecutors argued that the proof at trial demonstrated that a part of Ridley-Thomas’ public relations plan included discovering his son prestigious levels, titles, and paying jobs.
Throughout the conspiracy’s course, Flynn in the end offered Ridley-Thomas and his son advantages, together with graduate faculty admission to pursue a twin grasp’s diploma, a full-tuition scholarship, a paid professorship, and a mechanism for Ridley-Thomas to funnel $100,000 of his marketing campaign funds by the college to a non-profit to be operated by the son – Coverage, Analysis & Observe Initiative (PRPI).
In change, Ridley-Thomas supported contracts involving the Social Work Faculty, together with contracts to offer companies to the Division of Kids and Household Companies (DCFS) and the Probation Division, in addition to an modification to a contract with the Division of Psychological Well being (DMH) that might assist carry the varsity doubtlessly thousands and thousands of {dollars} in new income.
By funneling the fee by USC, Ridley-Thomas and Flynn tried to disguise the true supply of a $100,000 fee to make it seem as if USC, not Ridley-Thomas, was the beneficiant benefactor supporting Ridley-Thomas’ son and PRPI. Had it recognized this reality, USC wouldn’t have permitted the $100,000 fee.
For his half, Ridley-Thomas delivered on his finish of the corrupt discount. He voted on three county proposals that Flynn had sought to shore up her faculty’s shoddy monetary scenario – it confronted a multimillion-dollar price range deficit – together with a vote approving an amended Telehealth settlement with extra profitable phrases for the Social Work Faculty. He additionally sought to affect key county decisionmakers related to these approvals and made certain Flynn knew of his efforts.
United States District Decide Dale S. Fischer scheduled an August 14 sentencing listening to, at which era Ridley-Thomas will face a statutory most sentence of 5 years in federal jail on the conspiracy depend, as much as 10 years in federal jail for the bribery depend, and as much as 20 years in federal jail for every trustworthy companies fraud depend.
Ridley-Thomas was discovered not responsible of 1 depend of trustworthy companies mail fraud and 11 counts of trustworthy companies wire fraud.
Flynn pleaded guilty in September 2022 to 1 depend of bribery. Her sentencing listening to is scheduled for June 26. Flynn faces a statutory most sentence of 10 years in federal jail. Prosecutors have agreed to advocate she fulfill her custodial time period by means of dwelling confinement and have agreed to hunt a fantastic in opposition to her of not more than $150,000.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Legal professional Lindsey Greer Dotson, Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Part, and Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas F. Rybarczyk and Michael J. Morse, additionally of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Part, are prosecuting this case.
