Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
By Antonio Ray Harvey, Lila Brown and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media
On October 6, US District Judge Dale Fischer approved former L.A. Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas’ request to remain free while he appeals his conviction in front of the 9th Circuit of Appeals.
Mark Ridley-Thomas filed the motion on October 2.
The veteran Los Angeles politician was found guilty of seven felony counts, including conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, honest services mail fraud in a quid pro quo scheme in which his son received substantial benefits from the University of Southern California (USC). On Aug. 28, he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in federal prison.
Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA) before her appointment wrote a letter on the behalf of Ridley-Thomas, asking for the judge for leniency in the sentencing of her “friend, mentor and community leader.”
“As you make your consideration for the next phase of this process, I only ask that you consider the totality of who and what Mr. Ridley-Thomas has been, the work he has done, and the leadership he showed so many of us in times of difficulty,” Butler wrote in a letter dated May 25, 2023.
