Mark Ridley-Thomas, a prominent politician from Los Angeles County, has been sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison. The charges against him include voting in favor of county contracts that would benefit USC while accepting benefits for his son from the university. During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer stated that Ridley-Thomas’ crimes have victimized the entire community. Fischer further emphasized that Ridley-Thomas has not taken responsibility for his actions and shown no remorse.
In addition to the prison sentence, Ridley-Thomas has been ordered to serve three years on supervised release and pay an assessment and fines totaling $30,700.
During the hearing, Ridley-Thomas maintained his innocence but apologized for the perception that he deviated from proper conduct. He described his actions as “ill-advised, but not illegal.”
Ridley-Thomas, a former state legislator, city councilman, and county supervisor, is required to report to prison on November 13. He showed no reaction when the sentence was imposed.
Prosecutors had sought a six-year prison term for Ridley-Thomas, characterizing his actions as a shakedown. They highlighted the polite yet pervasive nature of his corrupt behavior, which is all too familiar when it involves sophisticated and powerful individuals. The prosecutors emphasized the devastating impact of such acts on the integrity of the democratic system.
Ridley-Thomas’ defense attorneys argued for a probationary sentence, suggesting home confinement, community service, and a fine as alternatives to imprisonment. However, if incarceration was necessary, they recommended a maximum of two years and three months.
Ridley-Thomas, who is 68 years old, was convicted of conspiracy, bribery, honest services mail fraud, and four counts of honest services wire fraud on March 30. The charges stem from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors. The jury acquitted him of a dozen fraud counts.
During the trial, Ridley-Thomas’ defense team advocated for a probationary sentence similar to the home confinement imposed on his co-defendant, Marilyn Flynn. The defense attorney argued that the government’s recommendation of a prison term was intended to punish Ridley-Thomas for refusing a plea deal and showing no remorse after his conviction.
Flynn, an 84-year-old former dean of USC’s social work school, pleaded guilty to bribing Ridley-Thomas. She was sentenced to 18 months of home confinement and ordered to pay a $150,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Greer Dotson justified her request for a prison term for Ridley-Thomas by highlighting how he used his position of power as a bargaining chip. Dotson emphasized that monetizing one’s position is a serious crime, regardless of the individual’s influence.
Ridley-Thomas’ former rival, Bernard Parks, wrote a letter to the court requesting the maximum prison term. Parks expressed concern about how Ridley-Thomas misled his colleagues by soliciting their support while concealing his corrupt behavior. Parks also criticized Ridley-Thomas’ lack of remorse and his attempts to undermine the public’s faith in the judicial process.
The prosecution argued that Ridley-Thomas had engaged in a corrupt scheme, using his influence to demand benefits for himself and his son in exchange for Los Angeles County business. Ridley-Thomas denied any wrongdoing and did not testify in his own defense. Federal prosecutors built their case on a trail of emails and letters, which they claimed showed Ridley-Thomas leveraging his position for personal gain.
Ridley-Thomas’ defense team maintained that imprisonment was unnecessary, given his longstanding presence in the public eye and the impact of his convictions on his reputation. They argued that he had already suffered significant consequences, including the loss of his city council position and a potentially uncertain financial future.
Judge Fischer acknowledged Ridley-Thomas’ standing as a formidable politician but emphasized that monetizing a public office has no justification. Ridley-Thomas had served on the Los Angeles City Council, in the State Assembly and Senate, and on the county Board of Supervisors.
Ridley-Thomas was suspended from the City Council following the federal indictment in October 2021, which also implicated Flynn. After the guilty verdicts, a new councilwoman, Heather Hutt, was appointed to his position. Ridley-Thomas’ attorneys have stated their intention to appeal the conviction and suggested that there are significant issues to address.
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