Former Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas is facing a sentence of 3.5 years in federal prison and a $30,000 fine for bribery and fraud.
U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer sentenced Ridley-Thomas Monday morning for seven corruption charges that were handed out in March. A federal jury previously found Ridley-Thomas guilty of one count of conspiracy, one count of bribery, one count of honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud.
“The entire community has been victimized by the defendant’s crimes,’’ Fischer said during the sentencing Monday, according to City News Service. Fischer also said that Ridley-Thomas “has committed serious crimes” and “has not accepted responsibility and has shown no remorse.’’
Ridley-Thomas was involved in a bribery and fraud scheme with Marilyn Flynn, former dean of the Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at USC. They funneled $100,000 from a campaign fund through the university and a nonprofit run by Ridley-Thomas’s son, who was previously a member of the State Assembly and subject of a sexual harassment investigation.
Flynn also provided Ridley-Thomas’ son graduate school admission to pursue a dual master’s degree, a full-tuition scholarship and a paid professorship during the scheme.