LOS ANGELES – Arraignment was postponed again Wednesday for Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, who’s accused of illegally receiving more than $60,000 a year from local consultants and failing to publicly disclose the income on economic disclosure statements.
Ledford — who was elected to his 13th two-year term as Palmdale’s mayor last November — was charged last month with one count each of conspiracy to commit a crime, conflict of interest and three counts of perjury by declaration.
His arraignment was rescheduled for Oct. 19.
“As everybody knows in the United States of America, even politicians … are entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Ledford’s attorney, Anthony Falangetti, told reporters after the charges were filed. “At this point no evidence has been presented. All we have is accusations and those accusations have been filed in court, that’s all we know. So … we will find out the truth over time as evidence is taken, but until that time my client, of course, is presumed innocent.”
Ledford’s attorney said his client has “dutifully served the city,” telling reporters that Palmdale has seen “positive growth, a number of things that have benefited the city, including the subject matter of the charges, the AERO Institute.”
“My client has consistently been above board with his involvement both in that and in other projects with the city,” Falangetti said.
Also charged along with Ledford are Kimberly Anne Shaw, 61, of Yorba Linda, and Susan Burgess Miller, 68, of Las Vegas, who are facing one count each of conspiracy, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. They are also set to be arraigned Oct. 19.
Shaw has been a consultant for the city of Palmdale for the past two decades, and with Miller’s assistance operates the AERO Institute, which receives more than $2 million annually from NASA and has paid a $1 annual lease to Palmdale since 2004, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The criminal complaint alleges that the defendants utilized various shell companies to pay Ledford about $5,200 a month. Miller, doing business as Complex Culture Change Consulting, hired Ledford in August 2009 as a consultant at or around the same time the AERO Institute began paying CCCC nearly all of its monthly income, the criminal complaint alleges.
AERO Institute paid Miller’s consulting firm more than $13,000 a month over a four-year period, and the company, in turn, paid Ledford the $5,200 monthly sum, though he did not perform any substantive work for AERO Institute during that time period, the District Attorney’s Office alleges.
The criminal complaint alleges that Ledford “willfully made or influenced a contract in which he knew he had an indirect financial interest” when he voted in favor of a seven-year contract between the city of Palmdale and Shaw, but that he “failed to disclose that he was indirectly receiving substantial income from AERO Institute, a company controlled by defendant Kimberly Shaw.”
Ledford is also accused of “knowingly, intentionally and deliberately” failing to disclose on economic disclosure statements in 2015, 2016 and 2017 “that he had received substantial income the preceding year from AERO Institute, a business with which the city of Palmdale had a contract for rent and other services.”
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office received a resident’s letter of complaint in July 2013, according to the criminal complaint.
If convicted as charged, Ledford could face up to four years and eight months in state prison and Shaw and Miller could each face up to four years behind bars, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Previous related stories:
Palmdale mayor charged in corruption case
Palmdale mayor addresses District Attorney investigation
Council member calls on Palmdale mayor to take leave of absence
Investigators search home, office of Palmdale mayor
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Ham Burgler says
sounds like just another politician getting his resume filled so he can seek higher office… they’re all corrupt…
up next: Mayor McCheese here will run for Guv and say things like “.. grab them by the…” and get elected by a landslide…
Tim says
The Lancaster Political Machine would never allow Ledford to go for higher office. That’s what this witch hunt is all about. It’s Rex and the Boys doing their usual smear campaign to ruin someone. They did it to Raymond Lee Jennings, Randy Floyd, Esmerelda Jorge, and now Jim Ledford.
Ledford will never attain a higher office. Rex and the Boys made sure of that.
Shane Falco says
Ledford’s actions and own words in a sworn deposition are doing him in.
William says
@Shane Falco
Did you vote for trump?
JPB says
Oh Foolco. If you would only take the time to read the actual deposition rather than parroting Rex’s biased, pathetic, and incorrect interpretation you might actually post something with a shred of legitimacy.
Go back to you master for instructions on how to reply.
Jim Ross says
What ever happened to mayor rex’s wife when she tried to take the gun on the airplane. Did baca the sheriff cover for her?
Jim
Tim Scott says
Nothing. I doubt it even went as high as Baca the Sheriff. All just “a little mistake that anyone could have made.” Of course you or I would have been lucky to get out of the airport alive.
Pearl says
She never finished her community service. She got to keep her concealed weapon carry permit. I feel real safe with Rex and her walking around with guns. He thinks bird sounds lower crime and she walks on a plane with a gun in her purse. No wonder Lancaster is such a mess.
alex says
What a contrast within a political party! Two Republicans-James Ledford, Mayor of Palmdale that has a servants heart, and attends all events for Veterans. Mayor Rex Parris has a heart that expects to be served, because he perceives he is a god, and attends no events for Veterans; at least none that I attended.
Tim Scott says
Well, the fact that if Wrecks showed up at a veterans’ event he might be lynched, and rightly so, could account for that.
A Boy Named Sue says
If you want to avoid Wrecks, attend veterans events. He is always a no show. The only interaction he has with veterans is when he sues them, like he’s doing to two of our AV American Legion Posts.
There is scum, and then there is Wrecks Parris, who is the scum all scum.
Willie says
Thank you AV Times for covering this story fairly. Over at the Antelope Valley Voice, they’re spewing all kinds of lies and slander. How much if Rex paying those hacks? I guess there be some place for ex-cons and the unemployable to blog, but slander is slander.
JPB says
Was the DA unable to get their act together? They got all the paperwork from DUI Drew and Rex. What’s the holdup?
This is going to be fun to watch. Just like Raymond Lee Jennings, Randy Floyd, and Esmerelda Jorge, we have the Parris Smear Machine on the attack.
Michael a otnisky says
Child molesters also have done many good things in the community…stop spinning his charges.
William says
I’m sure Mayor James Ledford sleeps more soundly at night, despite the accusations, than wrecks parris.
It’s called the sleep of the innocent.
In fact, I’ve slept well for the last 20-something he’s been mayor. I dread what might happen if he is no longer our mayor. I hope Mayor Ledford hand picks (endorses) his successor to give us a heads up.
He’s done an excellent job as mayor without a good ol’ boys gang getting the cream off the top and leaving skim milk for everyone else. Don’t we all know that wrecks & co. have been out to get him everywhichway but fairly?
It’s like wrecks and trump were separated at birth, rotten to the core. There are holocaust survivors who are more ‘well’ mentality than those two. I know one personally and he’s awesome; never, ever complains or expresses anger, hatred, jealousy or bitterness like those two. His life is about being a contribution to others at his advanced age.
Alby says
Trump, “wrecks” and the holocaust are all separate issues. I’d hate to think the accusations against Ledford are true. In my head, I’m thinking this is all apart of wrecks Jesus freak butter cream gang agenda. But… the facts will eventually come out.
BobM says
He will be found guilty as sin by his own accord
alex says
Alby…I agree with you. Trump, Rex, and the Holocaust are separate issues. I hope James Ledford is innocent of these accusations that haven’t yet been proven in a court of law. The facts are what counts.
William says
I was comparing a person who had been through a horrible experience and come out with remarkable grace with 2 rich clowns who are never happy unless money us coming their wayu.
Is that clear now?
There are many others who have gone through extreme circumstance that also show more grace and not bitterness than trump and wrecks.
Remember the movie ‘Unbroken’?
Alby says
Not you. William. Lol.
William says
Alby shows her inablility to understand much. Laugh Out Loud.
Alby says
Imma watch that movie for entertainment sakes. I don’t compare and draw conclusions based on movies… like lancasters trollin cronies do all the damn time…but until factual conclusions are drawn, imma entertain myself in the meantime. No spoiler alerts please.
alex says
I don’t compare other circumstances or movies with what is happening with our kind, humble, James Ledford. Is that clear? Have a peaceful, civil day.
William says
“Unbroken” was based on a true story and the actual person, Olympian Louis Zamperini, was shown at the end at the LA Olympics in ’84.
I keep forgetting that some people who comment here don’t get around much either physically or mentally.
Mayor Ledford is showing grace under pressure. wrecks and trump never show grace under any circumstance.
Alby says
Thanks for your input madam williams.
William says
alex.
So? I did. You don’t. So what? You actually had to say that in your reply???
Sometimes it’s useful. Didn’t you ever have to write a paper ‘comparing and contrasting’ something in college? I didn’t make up the device.
But, like I said, I forget that some of the ‘audience’ here is, uh, how you say, a little too provincial.
Anyway. Carry on.