Another domino has fallen in the sprawling corruption investigation at Los Angeles City Hall. On Wednesday, former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan was found guilty on 12 out of 12 criminal counts of bribery, fraud, racketeering, and lying to investigators.
Prosecutors told the jury that Chan was an integral part of former Councilmember Jose Huizar’s pay-to-play scheme with real estate developers. Chan not only acted as a middleman for the bribery deals, but also helped Huizar pay off a former aide who had filed a sexual harassment suit again the councilman. Chan secured the money for the settlement from developer Wei Huang, who owns Shen Zhen New World I. In turn, Huizar supported Shen Zhen New World I’s proposed 77-story skyscraper. That same developer was later convicted of supplying Huizar with bribes and was fined $4 million.
Additionally, as deputy mayor in charge of economic development under Eric Garcetti, Chan pushed for the proposed redevelopment of the Luxe Hotel by another Chinese developer. Once he was no longer employed by the city, he received money from that developer for moving the project forward.
The latest conviction follows guilty pleas from both Huizar and his former aide George Esparza. Chan is due to be sentenced on June 10.