Developer fined $4 million for bribing former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar
LA TimesFormer L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar, shown during a 2018 council meeting, admitted extorting at least $1.5 million in bribes from developers in his former district. A Chinese real estate company was fined $4 million Friday for the lavish bribes that its owner paid former Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar as it sought approval to build a downtown skyscraper. U.S. District Judge John F. Walter, who has presided over a series of City Hall graft cases, bemoaned “the crushing weight of corruption” as he imposed the sentence on Shen Zhen New World I. Its billionaire owner, Wei Huang, is “more than capable,” Walter said, of resorting to payoffs once again as he seeks to redevelop the company’s L.A. Grand Hotel at West 3rd and Figueroa streets. In his absence, Shen Zhen New World I was put on trial last fall, giving Huang what prosecutors described in court papers as “a free preview of the government’s case” against him.
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Ex-Liuzhou official sentenced to 16 years for bribery
China Daily
Ex-Liuzhou official sentenced to 16 years for bribery
China Daily
Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar pleads guilty in corruption case
LA TimesJury finds L.A. skyscraper developer paid Jose Huizar more than $1 million in bribes
LA Times
Former councilman Jose Huizar pleads not guilty to bribery, other charges
LA Times
Huizar, facing felony charge, will no longer receive L.A. council salary, official says
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