Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of California and the U.S.

August 23, 2006

Former Los Angeles City Commissioner Indicted
LOS ANGELES – Former Los Angeles City commissioner Leland Wong has been indicted on bribery, conflict of interest, embezzlement and other crimes investigated as part of a joint state-federal probe into allegations of “pay to play” by some officials in the administration of former Mayor James Hahn, the District Attorney's and U.S. Attorney's offices announced today.

“The indictment of former Los Angeles City Commissioner Leland Wong by the County Grand Jury is a significant step in rooting out corrupt public officials and exposing corruption within public institutions,” District Attorney Steve Cooley said in a brief written statement.

“The Public Integrity Division, which I created in 2001 and with an almost 99 percent record of convictions, will prosecute the Wong case,” Cooley added. “This ‘pay to play’ scandal remains a joint investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Public Integrity Division (PID).”

The 20-count felony indictment was returned late yesterday by the grand jury. It was unsealed this morning when Wong, 49, surrendered and was arraigned before Superior Court Judge David Wesley. The District Attorney’s office requested bail be set at $390,000, but Wong was released on his own recognizance. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Sept. 7 in Dept. 108.

Wong was indicted on 13 counts of grand theft by embezzlement, one count of accepting a bribe, two counts of conflict of interest, one count of perjury and three counts of filing false tax returns. The charges cover a period of time between 2000 and 2005.

The bribery, conflict of interest and perjury charges involve Wong’s activities as a city commissioner. They relate to dealings with Evergreen Shipping beginning in early 2002 while Wong was an airport commissioner. The indictment alleged he accepted a $100,000 bribe from an official of that firm.

The grand theft by embezzlement charges stem from his employment as director of government relations for Kaiser-Permanente. Each of the 13 counts alleged Wong stole “more than $400.” The embezzlement was uncovered, according to the indictment, by another Kaiser-Permanente employee in October 2003.

Wong has served on the Airport, Harbor and Water and Power commissions for various administrations. He was an Airport and Water and Power commissioner during the Hahn Administration.

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CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

JOSEPH SHEMARIA

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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of California and the U.S.