KCAL News obtains exclusive evidence showing the $200,000 José Huizar accepted in pay-for-play scheme
Former Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Friday in a corruption case involving 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 his taxes.
Prosecutors also recommended Huizar pay more than $400,000 in restitution.
The 55-year-old politician from 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.
He was ordered to surrender to authorities to begin serving his sentence on April 30.
Earlier this year, Huizar, who represented the downtown LA area for 15 years, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and one count of tax evasion. The Department of Justice said Huizar used his elected position to make himself and his friends richer.
"Huizar has admitted to orchestrating a racketeering scheme that enriched himself and others as they sought to monopolize political power at the expense of Los Angeles residents," United States Attorney Martin Estrada said in January 2023.
Estrada added that this case was "one of the most wide-ranging and brazen public corruption cases uncovered in this district."
KCAL News obtained evidence prosecutors used to convict Huizar. A video shows $200,000 in bribery money stuffed in a Johnny Walker Blue Label whiskey box along with another Don Julio box packed with the same amount of money. KCAL also obtained a recorded conversation between Huizar and a long-time aide, George Esparza, as agents closed in on them. Investigators said Huizar asked Esparza to hold onto the first $200,000 payment.
As part of his plea deal, Huizar admitted he implemented a pay-to-play scheme where he leveraged his office to help real estate developers who helped pay off bribes and other illicit financial benefits. Prosecutors said he and other city officials demanded and accepted cash bribes, casino gaming chips, expensive meals, as well as concert and sporting events tickets.
Additionally, the public officials accepted prostitution and escort services, flights on private jets and commercial airlines and stays at luxury hotels as well as casinos.
Finally, Huizar admitted to accepting a $600,000 bribe from a billionaire real estate developer to confidentially settle a pending sexual harassment lawsuit a former staffer levied against Huizar.
"Mr. Huizar's actions, to include accepting a staggering amount of bribe money and lavish gifts, eroded the trust in the office he held for many years," Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office said. "Angelenos deserve better than being used for the personal enrichment of politicians grifting the system and foreign investors whose currency is corruption.