He operated a scheme whereby builders gave him money in exchange for favorable treatment of his projects
Special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Los Angeles Councilman José Huizar at his home for allegedly running a criminal enterprise by using his position of power in City Hall to request and accept bribes for at least $ 1.5 million to change to favor real estate developers.
If found guilty, Huizar, who was once considered a rising political star, could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in a federal prisonl.
Hours after his arrest, the Los Angeles Council voted unanimously to suspend him from his position as councilman, since under City Charter's legal document, councilmen have the right and duty to remove an elected official when he is accused of a serious crime.
"The arrest of a properly elected councilman is a stain on our city government, but it should serve as a reminder that no one is above the law," said Los Angeles Council President Nury Martinez.
The same Tuesday, June 23, Huizar appeared in court before Federal Judge Paul L. Abrams, who ordered his release on bail of $ 100,000. He has a preliminary hearing for July 14, and the arraignment is scheduled for July 20 at 11:30 a.m.
According to the indictment, Huizar, 51, faces a charge of conspiring to violate the Federal Law against Organized Crime (RICO), and alleges that he is part of a criminal enterprise in which he and his partners violated a series of laws by committing crimes such as bribery, honest service fraud, extortion, and money laundering.
"This case opened the curtain on rampant corruption at City Hall," said US Attorney Nick Hanna.
"Councilman Huizar violated public confidence to an astonishing degree, allegedly requesting and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from multiple sources over many years," he added.
He added that Using the power of his office to approve or stop major real estate projects, he worked through a network of corrupt city officials, lobbyists, consultants, and developers to line his pockets. and maintain its power in District 14 by turning it into a criminal money-making business that delineated the real estate scene in Los Angeles.
"Mr. Huizar was busy enjoying the fruits of his alleged corruption while his criminal business sold the City to the highest bidder behind the backs of taxpayers," said Paul Delacourt, assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles office.
"As we investigate this case, we urge City residents, businesses, owners, and employees to report to the police with information about illegal and bribery practices in the government," he added.
Since 2005, Huizar has represented the 14th district that includes downtown Los Angeles, which has experienced a commercial property boom in recent years. For several years, he was chairman of the Land Use Administration Commission, which he lost after the FBI conducted searches of his offices and home in November 2018.
During the search of Huizar's home, agents seized approximately $ 129,000 stored in his closet.
According to the affidavit that supports the criminal complaint, the federal investigation revealed that Huizar operated in the City Hall, the "pay to play" scheme.
From his seat in District 14, in exchange for favorable official actions, he sought and accepted financial benefits from mainly Chinese domestic and international developers.
Council District 14 encompasses downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Glassell Park, Lincoln Heights, and Monterey Hills.
Among those who participated with Huizar, a former general manager of the Municipal Department of Security and Construction, a former vice-mayor, is cited; his former assistant George Esparza, and developer George Chiang.
A few weeks ago, Esparza and Chiang reached a court settlement to plead guilty to the same charge Huizar now faces.
The affidavit states that the so-called criminal company was created in early 2013 for Huizar at a time when each of its partners faced significant threats to their political and professional careers.
Huizar's attorneys, Mary Carter Andrues and Vicki Podberesky responded to The opinion that the councilor intends to respond to the government's accusations in court. “He firmly believes that these matters should be handled in court and not in the media. He asks the press to respect the privacy of his family and children. "
Huizar is the fifth person accused in the corruption investigation conducted by the FBI and the US Attorney's Office.
The other four defendants have agreed to plead guilty. Chiang will do so on June 26. Esparza has a pending date, and former Republican Councilor Mitchell Englander for July 7. The latter faces charges of falsifying material related to trips to Las Vegas and Palm Springs.
Removed and suspended
As soon as she learned of Alderman Huizar's arrest, Los Angeles Council President Nury Martinez began removing him from his City Hall office.
"My immediate concern is to ensure that the good people of District 14 have representation, assistance and support for anything that happens.. I am in talks with Councilor-elect Kevin De León to see what is the best way forward for District 14. ”
Councilman-elect for District 14 Kevin De León said this district deserves an active representation in the City Council. "I have spoken with President Martinez, and I am working closely with her to ensure that District 14 has full representation as soon as possible."
An allowed culture
Councilman David Ryu said the alleged crimes Huizar is accused of are for stomach upset. "Instead of serving the best interests of our city, he chose to enrich himself. ".
He added that the culture of corruption and the pay-to-play policy have long been allowed in the City Hall. “I am tired of proposing ideas that are rejected saying that they go too fast. How many more examples do we need to make changes? ”He asked.
It takes – he said – an inspector general with the power to supervise, investigate and subpoena councilors especially on land use decisions.
"We need changes to the Charter City to remove the layers of power that councilors can exploit for their own personal gain."
A star goes out
Huizar was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, but came to the United States when he was three years old. from the hands of his parents, a farm worker and a worker from a meat packing plant. He grew up in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. As a child he was a newspaper delivery man. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a bachelor's degree. He earned a master's degree in urban planning from Princeton University and a doctorate in law from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (UCLA).
From 2001 to 2005, he won a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board. In 2005, he was elected to the Los Angeles Council for the 14th district vacated by Antonio Villaraigosa. He was re-elected in 2007, 2011 and in 2015, he defeated the supervisor Gloria Molina who sought to unseat him.
In 2013, Councilman Huizar was sued for sexual harassment by his former employee, Francis Godoy, with whom he admitted he had a mutually agreed extramarital affair. The lawsuit was settled privately. The investigation by the city of Los Angeles exonerated Huizar of said charges.
In 2018, he was accused by two former employees of harassment, discrimination and retaliation. That same year, the FBI searched his home and offices, kicking off the corruption investigation that culminated in his arrest on June 23, 2020.
