GRA Note: Several articles today on the topic of fraud and abuse are noteworthy. 

LA City Councilmember Curren Price Pleads Not Guilty To Embezzlement, Other Charges

By Frank Stoltze; LAist
Published Jan 8, 2024 10:56 AM

Topline:  L.A. City Councilmember Curren Price on Monday pleaded not guilty to five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three felony counts of perjury and two counts of conflict of interest. After hearing arguments from attorneys, a judge declined a defense motion to dismiss the charges.

The charges: The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office has accused Price of voting to approve projects for developers who paid his wife for consulting work and then not reporting the connection on financial disclosure forms. Prosecutors also accuse Price of collecting city medical premiums for his wife while he was legally married to another woman.

The defense: In a filing with the court, Price’s attorneys argued the charges were filed after the district attorney conducted “a superficial investigation in which it neglected to interview Councilmember Price, his wife, or even the members of Councilmember Price’s staff who screen [City Council] agenda items for conflicts.” They argued the projects Price voted on “were non-controversial and unanimously approved on the consent calendars.” The filing also stated the statute of limitations had expired on the charges related to his wife’s city-funded health care.

The backstory: Price is the fifth member of the L.A. City Council to be accused of corruption in four years. Three have been convicted and are no longer on the council. Councilmember John Lee has denied any wrongdoing in connection with an Ethics Commission allegation that he accepted illegal gifts from developers.