Former Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for corrupt practices and tax evasion. The 55-year-old, representing Council District 14, was found guilty of using his influential position at City Hall to extort over $1.5 million in cash and benefits from real estate developers in exchange for facilitating downtown real estate projects through the city’s approval process. Additionally, he was convicted of tax evasion charges.

Huizar’s Corrupt Practices and Guilty Plea

José Huizar pleaded guilty to federal counts of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and tax evasion. His guilty plea revealed his leadership of the CD-14 Enterprise, a pay-to-play scheme where he, along with others, unlawfully used his office to provide preferential treatment to real estate developers in exchange for cash bribes, campaign donations, and other illicit benefits.

Exploiting Political Clout for Personal Gain

The pay-to-play scheme orchestrated by Huizar involved monetizing his public position for over $1.5 million in various forms such as cash bribes, gambling chips, luxury trips, political contributions, and even illicit services. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that Huizar would punish developers who resisted paying bribes by threatening them with delayed projects and financial consequences.

Bribery and Obstruction of Justice

Huizar admitted to accepting a $600,000 bribe payment disguised as a loan from China-based billionaire real estate developer Wei Huang. This payment was intended to secretly settle a sexual harassment lawsuit against Huizar by a former staffer. When under investigation, Huizar attempted to cover his tracks by obstructing justice, tampering with witnesses, and lying to government prosecutors and agents.

Co-conspirators and Cooperation

Members and associates of the CD-14 Enterprise, including lobbyists, consultants, and city officials, cooperated with the government’s investigation. Notable figures such as Huizar’s former special assistant, George Esparza, real estate development consultant George Chiang, political fundraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim, and lobbyist Morrie Goldman, pleaded guilty to charges related to their involvement in the corrupt practices.

Sentencing and Forfeiture

As part of the guilty plea, prosecutors are seeking a 13-year prison term for Huizar, who has also agreed to forfeit $129,000 in cash discovered during a search of his home in 2018. Huizar’s attorneys emphasized the lasting impact of the sentence on his family and the broader public perception of his confession.

Former Deputy Mayor Faces Charges in Bribery Scheme

Former Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan, implicated in the bribery scheme orchestrated by Huizar, faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, bribery, honest services fraud, and other counts. His trial is scheduled for February 27, following a mistrial in his first trial due to his attorney’s illness.

Huizar’s Brother Pleads Guilty to Lying to Investigators

In a related case, Huizar’s brother, Salvador Huizar, pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about accepting cash from José on numerous occasions. Salvador is scheduled for sentencing in August.

A Significant Verdict

The sentencing of José Huizar to 13 years in federal prison underscores the severity of corruption within City Hall and the abuse of political power for personal gain. As investigations continue into related cases involving former officials, the outcome of Huizar’s trial sends a strong message about accountability for those who exploit public office for illicit benefits.