Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price was charged Tuesday with theft by embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest for allegedly voting on projects involving developers tied to his wife’s consulting firm, then failing to report the connections.
The criminal complaint also alleges that Price effectively embezzled money between 2013 and 2017 by having the city cover roughly $33,800 in medical premiums for Del Richardson, to whom he claimed to be married, although he was still married at the time to Lynn Suzette Price.
Price, 72, has represented the Ninth District, which includes most of South Los Angeles and Exposition Park, since 2013. He previously served in the state Assembly and state Senate.
The councilman was charged with five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three counts of perjury and two counts of conflict of interest, according to a criminal complaint provided by the District Attorney’s Office. An arraignment date was not immediately set.
Price’s spokeswoman, Angelina Valencia-Dumarot, told City News Service, “We have not seen the charges filed against Council member Curren Price. It’s highly unusual for charges like this to be brought up against a sitting City Council member without any prior notice or discussion.
“Curren Price is a longstanding public servant who has given his life to the city of Los Angeles. He looks forward to defending himself once he’s had an opportunity to address these charges,” she said.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Price sent a letter to Council President Paul Krekorian announcing his decision to step down as council president pro tem, and surrendering all of his committee assignments. He will, however, retain his council seat.
“While I navigate through the judicial system to defend my name against unwarranted charges filed against me, the last thing I want to do is be a distraction to the people’s business,” Price wrote in the letter, first obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
Zach Seidl, spokesman for Mayor Karen Bass, issued a statement saying, “The mayor has yet to review the charges filed earlier today but she is saddened by this news.”
According to the complaint, between 2019 and 2021, Price’s wife’s consulting firm, Del Richardson & Associates, received payments totaling more than $150,000 from a pair of developers, after which Price voted on matters pertaining to the companies. He also allegedly failed to report the connections or the money paid to his wife’s company on city disclosure forms.
“Today’s charges against Councilman Curren Price are the result of a thorough investigation into allegations of public corruption,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “This alleged conduct undermines the integrity of our government and erodes the public’s trust in our elected officials. We will continue to work tirelessly to root out corruption at all levels and hold accountable those who betray the public’s trust.”
Price is the latest Los Angeles city official to fall into legal or political turmoil. Former council members Jose Huizar and Mitch Englander have both pleaded guilty to federal charges in recent years, while Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was convicted earlier this year of federal charges for trading votes during his time on the county Board of Supervisors in exchange for benefits provided by USC to his son.
Former City Council President Nury Martinez resigned last year after being caught on tape in a racially charged conversation with two other council members and a county labor official discussing the council’s redistricting process.
The fact that public service has now become an opportunistic revenue stream, seemingly contrary to any value or ethical principle is beyond astonishing. The evolution of this concept has exponentially increased in the past few years to become deeply offensive to any principled individual. West Hollywood appears to have become a laboratory for similar behavior and the local miscreants feel that their acts can be obscured by their pseudo social causes. John Erickson, Sepi Shyne seem particularly adept following the game plan of Lindsey Horvath. It’s all about them and not about the residents.Their acolytes continue to infect our municipal… Read more »
It doesn’t make sense to me that certain long time City Councilmembers and/or Commissioners in Weho are willing to work, almost for free, for so long, so many hours, if they weren’t getting some large hidden personal benefit. Even Mother Teresa wasn’t as charitable as some act here, who pretend to work for free, sometimes for decades. It defies logic. I suspect the easiest way to bribe our officials is with totally untraceable free luxury vacations. I’m confident some of our Weho officials are as dirty and corrupt as anywhere else. Just because someone acts compassionate about civil rights doesn’t… Read more »
Good observation. While Lindsey Horvath was a Councilmember it was virtually impossible to locate any legitimate talents or employment in the advertising business. Several individuals appeared to be providing cover for her but still no representation if her work. Seemed to have some unknown professional alliance with the chair of Planning Commission but that also was opaque. Both showed unusual allegiance to the recently deceased Ed Levin. Can anyone shed some factual light on this?
Lindsey Horvath is the single worst thing to ever happen in the entire history of Weho. (And that includes having Chelsea Byers and Sepi Shyne on the Council– John Ericson is like a Stateman compared to them, but that’s not saying much). Between Lindsey denying her Weho “service” on her campaign bio, defunding the Sheriffs, appointing unqualified inexperienced youthful daughters of connected billionaires, lying her way to a County seat, and just plain being dumb about everything else, she is in a class by herself.
This isn’t the greatest country in the world … it is the most corrupt. Right down to Weho and the slimy political hacks running it along with the bureaucrats. All over paid … who couldn’t get a job in the real world.
Which one of his wives is being referenced in the article?
Del Richardson. There is a 1/14/2015 article on Wehoville when she was hired by WHCHC to relocate the Detroit Bunglow tenants.
And so it goes… and we wonder why the West Hollywood City Council is NOT interested in anything the residents or long time businesses are concerned about: there’s no money in it. 🎯🎯🎯
They’re all corrupt in LA County. Just like Karen Bass getting the same kind of quid pro quo type of deal with USC that brought Mark Ridley Thomas down. I’d say she should be charged but I think too much time has passed.
Karen may not be a criminal but she’s indicative of the uneducated and 3rd world residents that permeate the city of Los Angeles. She couldn’t organize a dinner party of 2.