Evidence showed that Flynn provided Ridley-Thomas and his son benefits, including graduate school admission to pursue a dual master’s degree, a full-tuition scholarship, a paid professorship and a way for Ridley-Thomas to transfer $100,000 of his campaign funds through the university to the nonprofit.
Ridley-Thomas served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1991-2002, then was a member of the Assembly and state Senate before being elected to the powerful county Board of Supervisors in 2008, serving until 2020. He then returned to the City Council until he was suspended by his council colleagues in October 2021 and permanently removed following his conviction.
“The entire community has been victimized by the defendant’s crimes,” U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer said during the August 2023 sentencing hearing, adding that Ridley-Thomas “has committed serious crimes, has not accepted responsibility and has shown no remorse.”
City News Service