Ridley-Thomas showed no reaction as the verdict was Thursday, March 30, in a packed downtown Los Angeles courtroom. He was convicted on single counts of bribery and conspiracy, along with one count of honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer set sentencing for Aug. 14
Jurors, who reached their verdict on their fifth day of deliberations, acquitted Ridley-Thomas of 12 other fraud counts. The charges stemmed from what prosecutors called a quid pro quo arrangement between Ridley-Thomas and a former head of the USC School of Social Work, with Ridley-Thomas accused of steering county contracts toward the school in exchange for benefits provided to Ridley-Thomas’ son, former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. Ridley-Thomas faces possible prison sentences of up to five years for conspiracy, 10 years on the bribery count, and 20 years for each count of honest services mail and wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jury foreperson Kirsi Kilpelainen, 35, said outside court that the panel found “there was a scheme, there was dishonesty” in Ridley-Thomas’ actions involving a $100,000 transfer of funds that traveled from his campaign fund to USC, then to the United Ways of California, and finally to the politician’s son’s nonprofit think tank. The juror said the $100,000 transfer gave the panel “evidence for bribery,” allowing for a finding of guilty on the charge of bribery involving programs receiving federal funds. She said the panel struggled in deliberations for almost a week, but came to the seven guilty counts on Thursday, March 30.
Ridley-Thomas, 68, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. He did not testify in his own defense, but his attorneys argued throughout the trial that nothing he did amounted to a crime. After the hallways cleared, supporters formed a prayer circle and prayed for the Ridley-Thomas family. The leader of the prayer circle said the verdicts showed that the panel was “confused.” Prosecutors alleged that Ridley-Thomas, while serving as a county supervisor, “put his hand out” and accepted perks from USC to benefit his son, Sebastian. Federal prosecutors based their case on a long string of emails and letters to bolster allegations that Ridley-Thomas and the former dean of the USC School of Social Work, Marilyn Flynn, had a quid pro quo arrangement during 2017 and 2018 in which the then-dean arranged for Sebastian’s admission to USC, a full-tuition scholarship and a paid professorship in exchange for his father’s support for county proposals that would ostensibly shore up the school’s shoddy financial picture and save Flynn’s job.
However, defense attorney Daralyn Durie countered that nothing Ridley-Thomas did was illegal, and a series of defense witnesses contended that the “paper trail” was not what it seemed. Flynn, 84, pleaded guilty in September to one count of bribery, admitting that she agreed to disguise and funnel $100,000 from then-supervisor Ridley-Thomas to USC, then to United Ways of California, which ultimately passed the money on to a nonprofit run by Sebastian. Flynn, the longtime dean of the USC School of Social Work, who departed in 2018, is scheduled to be sentenced June 26.
Although the government argued that Ridley-Thomas accepted help for Sebastian in exchange for his support of USC contracts, including a Telehealth program, that would’ve helped Flynn’s school financially, Durie said the then-supervisor had already been in support of the proposals, so he could not have been bribed. As for the contention that Ridley-Thomas participated in a secret scheme whereby Flynn funneled $100,000 “seed money” from the politician’s campaign fund through the school to the Policy, Research & Practice Initiative, a nonprofit think tank operated by Sebastian, who had recently stepped down from the California Assembly, Durie argued that nothing the politician did was illegal. Ridley-Thomas’ support of the contracts that prosecutors claim would’ve helped remedy the troubled financial situation at Flynn’s school, had nothing to do with his son’s ambitions at USC, the defense attorney told jurors in her closing argument. Durie also alleged that one of the contracts amounted to less than $500,000 over five years — an amount so low it would not have helped remedy the financial problems at Flynn’s school.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morse told the panel, however, that Ridley-Thomas made the alleged exchange to benefit his son, who had resigned from the Assembly amid an internal sexual harassment probe that was about to go public at the peak of the #MeToo movement. However, defense witnesses maintained that Sebastian suffered from a series of significant health issues that caused him to resign and look for other work. At the conclusion of her two-hour closing argument last week, Durie asked the jury to acquit Ridley-Thomas, and “return this man to his home and his work and his community.”
According to the indictment, Sebastian became a professor of social work and public policy at USC — despite lacking a graduate degree — thanks to his father’s allegedly unlawful dealings. He was later terminated over questions about his original appointment and concerns by the university over the $100,000 donation. He also obtained a full-tuition scholarship and graduate school admission, court papers show. Jurors were not told that Flynn pleaded guilty in the case, and her plea agreement did not require her to testify at the Ridley-Thomas trial.
Ridley-Thomas is a giant figure in local politics, previously serving on the Los Angeles City Council from 1991-2002, then serving in the state Assembly and state Senate before he was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 2008, serving until 2020.
“This individual abused his position of power and engaged in corruption,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said outside the courthouse. “He defrauded the people… the people who elected him deserved his honest services.”
Previous related stories:
Jurors hear opening statements in Ridley-Thomas corruption trial
Mark Ridley-Thomas sues to restore pay after suspension
Former LACo Supervisor Ridley-Thomas criminal trial moved to November
August trial date set in Ridley-Thomas corruption case
Mark Ridley-Thomas, ex-USC dean indicted in alleged bribery scheme
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Johaness says
Sometimes an $850,000.00 salary can make you feel like God, untouchable, infinite wisdom,all knowing, and then the FBI knocks on your door and you wake up.
Tim Scott says
Hey honey!
Grab your boyfriend you guys gotta see this,
Trump is finally being indicted!
Tim Scott says
Tweedledumb, or Tweedledumber?
Hole in your Pocket says
Criminal politicians should receive the same treatment as any criminal independent of their political position. This includes assumption of innocence until proven guilty.
I understand that recently a Republican politician who – somehow – attained the highest political position in the land has been indicted on criminal charges.
What WOULD be a massive improvement is if -somehow- the political criminal would be treated with the same vigor and vile regard as his own party holds for members of outsiders who are charged.
I mean – imagine if Republicans had the nards to actually treat the recently arraigned ex-Qresident with the same low regard they do for literally ANY common criminal or ANY non-Republican.
Lancaster Larry says
He should have learned from Lancaster. They don’t offer favors for preferential treatment for their kids. They just bully you into it. Or they appoint you to the Planning Commission, cushy jobs with firms that contract with the city for things like garbage hauling, hire you to work at their law firm, and stuff like that. None of this donating money to their campaign fund for getting their kids in school. You’ll donate or else your business will suffer.
It’s the Lancaster way.
Online Influencer says
“Ridley-Thomas faces possible prison sentences of up to five years for conspiracy, 10 years on the bribery count, and 20 years for each count of honest services mail and wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
MRT deserves the maximum.
Larry says
Just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the graft and corruption in L A. democratic political circles. Why am I not pointing fingers at the L A. Republicans? Because L.A., and most of California are run by one party.
Tim Scott says
And the economy of California grows explosively, the state provided one of the safest places to ride out a world wide pandemic, and while it’s impossible to force people to get along and not treat each other like poop we have been more successful than most at making “at least fake it until you make it” a way of life, and that’s a start. So, yeah, it’s a good example of ‘one party rule.’
Clowntim says
Sounds like an awesome place, one that wouldn’t have 500,000 folks fleeing from in the last couple years.
One that also wouldn’t have so many folks constantly bitching about being drained by taxes and regs.
You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t have any qualms with living in California.
Tim Scott says
LOL…certainly among the delusional MAGAts that whine constantly. However, why should anyone care about their whining? Or their leaving?
Clowntim says
Check the price on a uhaul from Cali to Tennessee,
Then check the price from Tennessee to Cali and get back to me…
B says
Cause you’d have no one to pay for all of your mutant social programs and welfare,
That’s why they’d care.
Tim Scott says
LOL…check your demographics Tweedledumb. You have misplaced the political leanings of the people who make most of the money.
B says
If all of the Republican voters in California packed their bags and left Tomorrow, the state would be doomed. And all the mutant leaches would starve.
That’s why they are trying to tax folks even after they have left.
Tim Scott says
LOL…most republican voters can’t afford to pack their bags and leave. Their wealth is land in the rural areas that is very hard to liquidate. If they gave away their land and left it wouldn’t be hard to find people to take it over and keep it at least as productive if not make it more productive.
And imagine what an improvement it would be if leeches like you weren’t applauding “scam the neighbors to pave Avenue K” schemes.
B says
“If they gave away their land and left it wouldn’t be hard to find people to take it over and keep it at least as productive if not make it more productive”
Sure, we would be replaced with the river flowing over the southern border and instead of 10 in the house they’d pack 20 to make it work these days.
You’re a lame, an insufferable lame criminal.
Duh says
Not really. Cali Democraps almost killed the state economy with their communist lock downs. The only thing that held it up were the hardworking amongst us. One party rule is the act of fools.
Tim Scott says
“Almost killed” it into the fourth largest economy on the planet. How do you keep reality from intruding into your hare filled fantasies?
Duh says
Hello again. Your soy boy was caught dead to right. There were not any “Trumped” up charges on MRT. He was guilty as sin. So much so, the Democratic DOJ could not look away!
Tim Scott says
LOL…”trumped up charges.” I could prosecute Trump successfully on the charge of felony falsification of business records without even calling a witness. Evidence to conclusively prove every element of the crime is available in public record, in the United States vs Michael Cohen case. The way that Trump apologists are pretending otherwise is hilarious.
Beee says
“I could prosecute Trump successfully on the charge of felony falsification of business records without even calling a witness.”
Uh no you couldn’t your a loser felon,
Here we have an ex bank robber basically chastising a tag being ripped off a mattress, lol
Beeee says
https://youtu.be/YaEvKQgDe_g
Lol
JoeRob says
He is a disgrace to his Race and this country! I remember he knocked on my door asking for my vote! That was a mistake I made in voting for him!
ACE says
ANOTHER DIRTY LITTLE CROOK..!
***
SPEAKING OF WHICH…
WHEN WILL JIM LEDFORD BE GOING TO TRIAL..?
NEVER..?
***
Isthisforreal says
Ledford had his trial in 2021. He plead guilty to two counts. 2 years probation, and pay 175,000 or so in restitution.
Tim Scott says
Democrat commits crime, democrat goes to jail, everybody happy.
Republican commits crime, Republican gets charged, Republicans outraged.
Nuff Said says
Well, it IS consistent…
When a crime boss is caught, the criminal enterprise activates it’s only known process: more crime.
You gotta hand it to them, they do follow a consistent pattern.
Unfortunately for them, pattern crime is easily detected and predictable.