Disgraced former Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar faces sentencing on Friday, Jan. 25, for using his powerful position at City Hall to shake down real estate developers for at least $1.5 million in cash and benefits in exchange for help driving downtown real estate projects through the city’s approval process, and for cheating on your taxes.
Huizar, 55, of Boyle Heights, pleaded guilty a year ago to federal counts of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and tax evasion.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a 13-year prison sentence and payment of more than $1 million in restitution to the city of Los Angeles. Huizar’s attorney countered that nine years behind bars would be sufficient. The final determination Friday is up to U.S. District Judge John Walter in Los Angeles federal court.
In a letter to U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter, Huizar apologized to his family, his former constituents and the city and said he had paid a heavy price – sacrificing his reputation and his ability to provide for his family losing and endangering his children’s future and their mental health .
“My entire life has been turned upside down and I regret ever straying from the values that brought me into public service in the first place,” he wrote. “I have caused unexpected collateral damage to the people and institutions I care about.”
The five-page letter was filed with the court a day before Huizar’s sentencing in a federal case involving various types of bribes offered by real estate developers on projects in Huizar’s downtown district. In the letter, which was partially redacted, Huizar said his own weakness changed his life forever.
“Shining things dangled before me and I couldn’t resist the temptation,” wrote Huizar, who pleaded guilty last year to racketeering and tax evasion charges. “The money, the fancy dinners, luxury flights. “It was there and I wasn’t strong enough to say no.”
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