Former LA Deputy Mayor Sentenced in Corruption Case

Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in a pay-to-play scheme with ex-Councilman José Huizar, involving $1.5 million in bribes from downtown developers. Chan was found guilty of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act, honest services wire fraud, bribery, and making false statements. He served as an intermediary, orchestrating bribes and benefiting from the scheme himself, while working at the Department of Building and Safety and as Deputy Mayor under Eric Garcetti. U.S. District Judge John Walter also ordered Chan to pay $752,457 in restitution. While Chan's attorney argued that Chan was not the mastermind, federal prosecutors described him as the brains behind the corruption, causing significant reputational damage to the local government. Chan is scheduled to surrender to authorities by January 6 to begin his sentence.